Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko late Monday hit at politicians in the state for encouraging crime by recruiting youths into violent groups to be used for elections.
These youths, he said, later end up becoming the cultists who have been threatening the peace of the state in recent times.
Manko, who was summoned before the Lagos State House of Assembly due to the increasing rate in cult activities in the Yaba area of the state, lamented that the Police is now frustrated because most of these cultists have been arrested before, prosecuted and convicted, only for them to find their way back to the society.
He told the members of the House that one of such cultists, who allegedly killed and dismembered a resident of the state in Bariga weeks ago, had earlier been convicted about five times, but he always found his way out of prison. He assured that his men are always ready to combat crime and have been responding to distress calls. He added that his duty is to arrest and send suspects to court, and not to determine what happens to them afterwards.
“In those days, cultists used to operate in institutions of higher learning, but these days you see them in motor parks.
“Some of the boys used during campaigns by politicians later turn out to be cultists. My duty is to arrest them and take them to court, but some of these criminals still come back into the society after some time.
“I can tell you that the man who was alleged to have killed somebody in Bariga, that young man has been charged to prisons for more than five times. My duty as a policeman is to arrest and prosecute. I do that, yet the same criminals get back to the system, I don’t know”.
He however stated that he has begun the compilation of names of such criminals so that it would be made available to the public, and so that people can experience the frustration of arresting criminals and seeing them return to the streets.
Responding to questions on why police officers demolished several buildings in the Badagry area of the state, Manko said the land was acquired by the Police for N176 million for its officers and that the Police got a certificate of occupancy to the land. He said Police authorities had been warning against encroachment into the land since 2007 but the occupants had refused to leave.
The occupants had demonstrated to the House of Assembly last week, alleging that the Police brought in bulldozers to destroy their properties.
Manko said but for the intervention of the lawmakers, he was planning to make the encroachers pay for the energy spent by the Police to demolish the buildings.
He also denied the allegation that his men extort money from motorcycle riders who operate in legitimate areas in the state, adding that motorcycles seized from those that contravene traffic laws are usually handed over to the Lagos State Task Force.
He promised the lawmakers that he would continue to do his best for the state; and Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji commended him and urged him to continue his good works.
