Lagos Assembly Calls For More Security For Coastal Areas

As suspected hoodlums are reportedly invading coastal areas of Lagos
State, the state House of Assembly has called for more protection of
the coastal areas in the state by the police.

This became a resolution of the House after it was raised as a matter
of urgent public importance by the Chairman of the House Committee on
Information, Publicity, Strategy and Security, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, who
called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to sign the
Neighbourhood Protection Safety Bill recently passed by the House into
law.

The lawmaker also used the opportunity to call on President Muhammadu
Buhari to increase the number of security men in the coastal areas in
the state to forestall the upsurge of hoodlums in the areas. The
motion was subsequently seconded by Hon. Tobun Abiodun.

Braimoh recalled an incident in Igbo Olomu area of Ikorodu area of the
state, where alleged illegal bunkers reportedly invaded the community,
killing, kidnapping and raping the residents.

“The Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule was driven
out of the place by the hoodlums, when she went there for inspection,
while one of her security aides was wounded. Crime has now become a
recurring decimal in the place.

“The people of the area are apprehensive as the mobile policemen
deployed to the place cannot match the number of criminals in the
area. We need to do something quickly to avert further damage,” he said.

The incident was confirmed by the lawmaker representing Ikorodu
Constituency 1, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who said that though peace has
since returned to the area, the residents are still apprehensive.

Agunbiade, who is the Majority Leader of the House, called for a
reinforcement of the policemen in the area as well as constant
surveillance and monitoring of coastal lines in the state as he said
that they have become porous in the area of security.

In his contribution, Hon. Abiodun Tobun from Epe Constituency 1,
observed that the attack on people living in coastal areas in the
state is becoming rampant, adding that it has extended to Epe area of
the state.

Tobun revealed that a daughter of a monarch in Epe area, Alara of
Ilara was recently kidnapped, and was only released after ransom was
paid.

He added that an expatriate was also kidnapped at a project site in
Epe, and called on President Buhari to fortify coastal areas in the
state to drive away the invading Niger Deltans.

Another lawmaker, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu said that the success of Lagos
has become an attraction to criminals, while Hon. Jude Idimogu also
supported the protection of the coastal areas in the state.

In his own view, Hon. Victor Akande, who commended the efforts of the
state government on security, called on the Federal Government to
consider the issue of state police.

Akande stressed that if there is state police, the security situation
of the state would improve due to its large population.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, in summarising the
matter, stated that the state government is doing much to protect
lives and property of the residents of the state.

According to him, security is an important matter, which he said was
why the issue of state police and restructuring was important.

“We need to assure investors that Lagos State is safe for investment
and investors. We will continue to support the Federal Police, but we
want the Governor to sign the Neighbouhood Protection Safety Bill
recently passed by the House into law,” he said.