LAGOS STATE POLICE DEBUNK REPORTS IT LOCKED DOWN BROOKS ESTATE IN MAGODO
The Lagos State police command has debunked reports that it locked down Brooks Estate, Magodo, Isheri, Lagos State.
This comes after reports emerged on social media indicating that the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, locked down the Estate during his visit on Saturday.
The Police boss, who was recently promoted to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIGP), had visited the Estate on Saturday January 1 to meet with someone at a function after visiting some areas in the State.
Responding in a statement by the Lagos State Police PRO, Adekunle Ajisebutu, he stated that those circulating the allegations are out to 'blackmail the Commissioner of Police for some personal reasons'.
He said; "The Commissioner of Police was accompanied by his armed security details and was driven in his official car bearing an official number plate and a pennant, including all the paraphernalia of office.
"On reaching the Estate gate, he was properly introduced notwithstanding the visible security details in uniform including an outrider in his convoy, yet he was prevented from entering the Estate by some overzealous private security guards.
All appeals to the security men to allow the CP go to see someone at a function where an urgent matter bordering on security was to be discussed, fell on deaf ears even when they had foreknowledge of his coming.
In spite of this deliberate humiliation, the senior police officer remained calm. When it became obvious that the security men were going overboard, the CP after about 30 minutes humiliation, ordered the arrest of four of the security men, leaving one. However, in order not to make the Estate porous, the Commissioner of Police immediately posted well-armed policemen at the gate to support the security man left behind."
The Police PRO added that a female resident of the Estate, Adebola Fatiregun, stormed the gate in anger, inciting other residents against the Police boss and his security men.
The Police boss ordered for her arrest for inciting violence which was likely to cause a breach of peace. She and all those arrested were conveyed to the Isheri Police Station but were released few minutes after.
CSP Adekunle added; "At no time did the Commissioner of Police shut or lock down the Estate. The police boss could not have done that for whatever reason, knowing that the Estate is a residential one."
He revealed some residents of the Estate in solidarity for the arrested security men, deliberately closed the gate, thereby creating a temporary gridlock.
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