Lagos is Underpoliced, Edgal Cries Out

Lagos is Underpoliced, Edgal Cries Out

Policemen in Lagos are not enough to secure the state, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgal cried out today.

According to Edgal, 17000 policemen protect 23 million people in Lagos. That means one policeman is protecting approximately 1353 people.
This is against the United Nations recommendation of one police officer to 450 citizens.

Speaking at the Eminent Personality security stakeholders meeting organised by the Area ‘G’ Command today, Edgal said the way out was for members of the public to take security seriously by knowing their neighbours.
CP Edgal addressing stakeholders at the event.

Edgal said, “In line with my community policing strategy, I have urged residents to set up the Vigilantee Group and the police are to go out with them at night.

“We need the partnership of members of the public as the police cannot do it alone. Lagos has the population of 23million people and Lagos State Police command has 20,000 policemen; I7,000 are active so you can see that we cannot be everywhere.You have to take your community back from criminals.

“Do not allow cultists to take over your community. I have met with the Chief judge of the state as I am committed to prosecuting them deligently and ensure they are jailed. It is important for us to bring back our old ways of policing strategy which is know your neighbours. That way we can know what people do for a living and provide information of suspicious persons or movements to law enforcement agencies.”

Members of the public also urged the CP to provide patrol vehicles and other logistics to the police in Alimosho Local Government Area.

Nigeria itself has approximately 370,000 to 170million people.