32 Policemen, 270 Others Murdered In Lagos
The police released yesterday grim statistics of the crime rate in Lagos in the last one year. No fewer than 270 people were murdered and 32 policemen killed in gun battles with armed robbers in the nation’s commercial capital.
Lagos State Police Commissioner Umar Manko reeled off the scary figures at the sixth Town Hall meeting on security at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island. The Lagos State government has spent N8.7 billion to equip the police through its Security Trust Fund.
Manko spoke before Governor Babatunde Fashola and members of his executive, legislators, traditional rulers and members of the Fund.
The figure of 32 policemen killed represents an increase of 13 over the 19 killed in gun battles with robbers last year.
But the police have the upper hand in the battles.
More after the cut...
The statistics revealed that between November 1 and October 31, policemen killed 140 suspects. This, however, represents a shortfall in the number of suspects killed by the police between November 2010 and October last year, which stood at 164.
Besides, there are more robbery cases – 123 incidents were recorded in the last 11 months as against 61 recorded the previous year.
The police arrested 569 robbery suspects in 11 months. The figure is higher than the 522 of the previous year. More arms were recovered this year (371 arms) than last year’s 328.
Armed robbers have been using more sophisticated ammunition as 26, 058 of them were recovered in the last 11 months as against 3,553 ammunition recovered the previous year.
The statistics showed that fewer vehicles were recovered from robbers this year (954 vehicles) as against 1, 187 recovered the previous year.
Furthermore, 1,263 vehicles were stolen in Lagos this year and 1,448 last year.
The police foiled 418 armed robbery cases this year; 426 cases were foiled last year.
“The new trend in Lagos State is the vandalisation and attack on ATM, car jerking and the menace of commercial motorcycle operators. The command has risen up to the challenge by evolving new strategies to combat the menace but dearth of funds and logistics continue to hamper our efforts,” he said.
Fashola decried the challenge of equipping “and resourcing our security agencies in the face of the insufficient support from the Federal Government which has continued till this day” .
He said his administration through the Security Trust Fund (STF), has provided logistics valued at N8.7 billion for the police and other security agencies to match the increasing wave and technique of crime in the state.
Culled The Nations
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