Four days after the Department of State Services (DSS) revealed it has arrested 20 suspected Boko Haram commanders in Lagos, Kano, Enugu, Plateau and Gombe states; the Lagos Police Command has described the information as hogwash.
Speaking with a crop of journalists yesterday in his office, at Ikeja, the State’s Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said he doesn’t think Lagos is under Boko Haram threat.
His words: “Yes, DSS said that Boko Haram is in Lagos, but the police have not said! I guess DSS has its reason for saying that, but as far as police are concerned, we want to tell residents in Lagos not to panic over this! There are ways information is managed!”
Owoseni said that instead of seeing a bogeyman in every corner, security agencies should teach residents security awareness, ensuring that everyone becomes part of security.
It will be recalled that in August 30, 2015, DSS, in a statement by an official, Tony Opuiyo, in Abuja, said those arrested were notable commanders and frontline members of the dreaded group.
According to Opuiyo, the suspects were arrested between July 8 and August 25, 2015.
DSS said that those arrested in Lagos include Bakura Modu who was apprehended on July, 20 at Kara, Ogun State; Mustapha Jamberi, who was picked up on July 24 at Gowon Estate. There is also Abuyi Sheriff, who was arrested at Ebute-Meta; Babagana Ali and Babagana Koloye, who were arrested on August, 7 at Eric Moore, Surulere. DSS noted that it also arrested Abba Sagma at Ijora Badia on August 9; Grema Abubakar and Tijani Bagudu were apprehended at Amukoko, Ijora Badia the next day, while Baba Alhaji and Abass Ibrahim were arrested earlier on the same day at the Alaba International Market, Ojo.
The news caused fear in Lagos. And many residents expected the police to have started putting measures in place to combat the dreaded group and to ensure that lives and property of residents are secured.
Owoseni however, felt the DSS was creating unnecessary panic.
He explained that before the news broke, he and his men had already placed security measures on ground, which included enlisting the help of members of the public and deploying policemen on covert operations across the state.
Owoseni said: “I’ve been going round the whole of Lagos and we’ve talking to members of the public. We’ve spoken to groups and market women, on measures to take. We’ve given them hints for their personal security on what to watch out for. I don’t think Lagos is under the threat of Boko Haram. I don’t know DSS got their fact from.”
He said that he came in during the Ramanda fasting period and that from that time, the police in Lagos had been coming up with advisories to people in the city, to be conscious about those around them.
“What they should look out for and then alert security agents. We’ve also deployed operatives on covert operations to motor parks, in partnership with members of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), to check unusual movements in parks. It’s not just about Boko Haram, but also crime and criminality generally,” said Owoseni.
He continued: “Yes, even though there’s no fact that they are in Lagos, we’ve already taken preventive measures before the DSS news. We’ll keep on speaking with people. It’s not just enough to say Boko Haram is here. Once everybody takes security as their business, showing concern and asking who are their neighbours, it would help us. It’s not to raise alarm! Yes, I don’t know the facts DSS have, but I’m assuring residents in Lagos, that the state is safe! Security agencies, with the assistance of the military and members of the public, we shall continue to make sure we do what we need to do. We’re synergizing very well.”
