Posted by By FEMI BABAFEMI and NANA AHMADU on
Miffed by the activities of street urchins popularly called Area Boys, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu has asked the Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero to give shoot on sight order on all miscreants in Lagos
Miffed by the activities of street urchins popularly called Area Boys, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu has asked the Inspector General of Police Mr. Sunday Ehindero to give shoot on sight order on all miscreants in Lagos .
Oba Akiolu who made this demand Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the police boss in his palace said the order has become necessary in view of the enormous risk constituted by street urchins to socio-economic development of the state.
Besides, he canvassed that a standing strike force should be set up by police authorities to fight the Area Boys menace. And to compliment, this, the Oba also asked that the notorious Ita Oko detention camp on an isolated island in Lagos should be reopened to provide homes for those taken from the streets.
The Oba who retired as an Assistant Inspector General of Police said the era of mere arrest of miscreants should be discontinued since only force can eliminate their activities.
His words: "Send officers in mufti on patrol to areas where Area Boys operate. By the time they kill five or six of them they will sit tight. I served for several years in mopol (mobile police),I don't tolerate nonsense. Even if my son misbehaves, I will order him dealt with."
The Oba who asked that police authorities should be given free hand to operate at all levels without any interference bemoaned the difficult situation policemen face in the country. He said it is necessary for all stakeholders to support the police since government allocation is not enough to cater for the needs of the force.
He condemned a situation where leaders use their positions to amass wealth to the detriment of the masses, adding that it is also wrong for leaders to use their authorities to perpetrate injustice.
Speaking earlier, the IGP told Oba Akiolu that he was in his domain to meet stakeholders on how to fashion out measures to curb crime in the state, especially the rampant cases of bank robbery.
He said the Oba's input will be appreciated given his position as a traditional ruler and his background as a security chief.