Residents of Agege in Lagos State are worried about the ongoing police raids in their area. They fear that innocent people might be arrested and punished unfairly during these operations. The Lagos State police have been raiding criminal hideouts along the Agege rail line and surrounding areas.
The Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, visited the Agege rail line on Saturday to investigate complaints about petty robberies in the area. Following his visit, he ordered changes to the security measures in the area. The police are now more active, especially in the spots known for criminal activities.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the Public Relations Officer for the Lagos State Police Command, shared on X.com that the Commissioner of Police was very concerned about the complaints.
He said, “Worried by complaints of harassment and petty robberies along the rail lines in Agege, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, embarked on a fact-finding visit to the area. He has since ordered a rejig of the security architecture in the area, charging DPOs within the vicinity to ensure optimal provision of security.”
During a raid monitored by our correspondent, about 10 people were arrested. Among them were both passers-by and individuals suspected of criminal behavior. Some residents are happy about the police actions but worry about the method used.
A resident named Segun shared his thoughts: “I am happy that the police are carrying out this raid because the petty robbers are becoming rampant in this area. My only concern is the approach deployed by the police which is just stopping people based on suspicion and arresting them. The police should reconsider their approach so that innocent persons will not be made to suffer.”
Another resident, Akeem, urged the police to be more careful in identifying suspects. He said, “It is good the police are carrying out the raid because this place at night is usually a dreaded spot. Once it is 7 pm, you cannot walk without fear. But the issue is that those miscreants who carry out the petty robberies do not come out during the day. They operate at night. So if the police want to crack down on the real culprits, they should come at night. This daylight raid may lead to the arrest of innocent citizens. Meanwhile, they should scrutinize the suspects arrested so that innocent persons are not unjustly punished.”
In a telephone conversation, Commissioner Fayoade tried to calm residents’ fears. He assured them that measures are in place to ensure that innocent people are not arrested or punished. He stated, “The operation is a tactical one that is being supervised by a senior police officer in the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. We will make sure that innocent persons are not arrested and when there is an instance of such, they will be promptly released.”