TheCable

Hakeem Odumosu, Lagos commissioner of police, says the state police command is investigating threats of attacks by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and members of Oodua Republic.

Odumosu spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting on security which was chaired by Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, on Monday.

Amid the growing insecurity in the country, alarms have been raised over planned attacks on some facilities in the state.

In April, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it received an alert from the ministry of aviation over planned attacks on airports across the country.

However, the Lagos police commissioner said necessary strategies are being put in place to prevent any attack in the state.

“The command has taken notice of agitators for Oodua Republic by some Yoruba separatist groups and the threats to disrupt law and order in the state,” Odumosu said.

“Twenty-four of these groups have been identified and being closely monitored. Similarly, the threat of IPOB to attack soft targets in Lagos is equally being put on the radar of the command intelligence gathering and other security services in the state.

“Strategies are being put in place to neutralise their activities.”

The CP asked for the support of the public and urged them to be vigilant and report suspicious persons or movements to security operatives.

“The command is using this medium to solicit for the support of all and sundry to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious person or movement to security agencies. Let us adopt the slogan of ‘when you see something, say something’,” he said.

Odumosu said intelligence reports showed that criminals make use of abandoned houses and vehicles as hideouts and to hide ammunition.

He suggested that the state government should take over abandoned buildings and vehicles across the state.

The Lagos CP also said commercial motorcyclists, known as okada riders, create “an avenue of insecurity in the state”, and advised the government to immediately take urgent measures against them.