Police warn against use of firearms, violence during today’s council polls

Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni

Ahead of today’s council elections, the Lagos State Police Command yesterday warned all stakeholders, party agents, public office holders and the electorate to desist from violence and carrying firearms anywhere in the state.

Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who gave the charge during a meeting with stakeholders at the POWA Hall, Oduduwa, Ikeja, said the police would come down hard on anyone who flouts the order.

Owoseni, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of B Department, Operations, Edgal Imohinmi, addressed scores of political party chairmen and their agents, who had thronged the centre to sign an undertaking not to cause violence during the polls.

“If you want to commit suicide, come out with your firearms because the police will use proportional force against such persons,” he cautioned.

Speaking on the ongoing measures to profile the party leaders and have their biometrics recorded, he said such move would help the police in the discharge of their duties, especially in the event of breakdown of law and order.

“We have profiled you and have taken your biometrics. We have also interfaced with you personally and we will tell you what to expect from us.

“During this election, we don’t want political thuggery like we witnessed in certain elections from different camps, who have caused mayhem.

“Arrests have been made and a special team at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yaba is investigating the cases.

“If any of the hoodlums are traced back to you, it will jeopardise your chances. Talk to your supporters not to be overzealous because we will not hesitate to write an intelligence report to your party and the government.

“Already, we have gotten some intelligence report that some holdings are ganging up somewhere and of course, we have sent our police team there,” he added.

Owoseni said the police in conjunction with other security agencies have observed a show of force in some parts of the state in the last two days.

He noted that the security agencies deployed for the show of force was drawn from the military, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps and the Department of State Security (DSS).