LAGOS’s MR. PEACE, AIG ABIODUN ALABI DRAWS CURTAIN ON 1-YEAR TENURE; RAISES THE BAR ON POLICING • Ascribes success to God; Thanks Gov. Sanwo-Olu, IGP Alkali Baba, LSSTF for success
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: New Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa; Immediate Past Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command/AIG Zone 2, AIG Abiodun Alabi; Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; DC Operations, DCP Isa Grema; DC Admin, DCP Bassey Ewah and DC SCID, DCP Waheed Ayilara during the arrival of CP Owohunwa as CP Lagos Command.
Fondly called Mr. Peace by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, AIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi has ended his stay at the State Command HQ on a high. Now in the record books as the 37th Commissioner of Police of Lagos State Command, AIG Abiodun Alabi performed tremendously as he raised the bar on policing. Though brief, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can affirm that his 1-year tenure was attended by resounding success.
This includes cultism reduced to the barest minimum, no bank robbery recorded, armed robbery cases almost non-existent, cache of arms mopped up from the public, traffic robbery eradicated ‘which used to be very serious as at the time I came into office at the State Command last year. That is why Lagos have been able to have relative peace and conducive environment.’
AIG Abiodun Alabi in his speech at the handing over ceremony which held on 14th February 2023 noted: ‘It has been a full year of policing the most cosmopolitan and populous city in West Africa. There is no doubt that we had some security challenges, all of which we were able to surmount, to the glory of God. It gives me great joy to note that during my tour of duty at the Lagos State Police Command, there was no major security challenge that led to a serious crisis. This was due largely to the commitment and dedication to duty of officers and men of the command while providing the strategic leadership. Also, the immeasurable support of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund is appreciated in our quest of fighting crime frontally. We were able to bring crime to the barest minimum, and dealt a big blow to traffic robbery especially with the state-sanctioned ban on use of motorcycles in certain LGAs of the state and strategic motorized patrols in identified areas during peak traffic hours.’
Recalling his policing goals in the early days as Lagos CP, Alabi said: ‘At my maiden press briefing on 24th January 2022, I made it clear that my crime prevention strategy and policing vision would rest on visibility policing, respect for human rights, professional ethics, intelligence-led policing, community policing, proactive policing and inter-agency synergy. You would all agree with me that we made tremendous achievements as regards these yardsticks.’
‘Accountability was made bedrock of my administration as all Area Commanders, DPOs and other officers were made answerable for their actions and inactions. We sadly recorded two cases of misuse of firearms but in our usual tradition of ensuring justice and accountability, the officers involved in these cases are currently undergoing trial for their actions.’
L-R: Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan in a warm handshake with the Immediate Past Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command/AIG Zone 2, AIG Abiodun Alabi
Expressing his thanks, the Ekiti-born CP shared: ‘I must not fail to appreciate the Inspector General of police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc for the confidence he reposed in me by appointing me Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command last year and now Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Lagos. I am indeed humbled by this rare display of trust and pledge not to betray this uncommon vote of confidence. I also would like to appreciate my indefatigable management team for their relentless pursuance of my strategic policing visions and actions for the state. Their support and unflinching loyalty is highly appreciated and not taken for granted’, NAOSNP gathered.
L-R: Board Member, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan in a warm handshake with the Area Commander, Area F, ACP Alli Zongo
‘I equally appreciate members of the fourth estate of the realm for their unwavering support for me and the officers and men of the command and their unshakeable stand for truth and justice at all times. I most sincerely thank the press for this. Their objective reportage and unbiased feedback has helped us to police Lagos State better.’
AIG Alabi also hailed the inter-agency collaboration which he experienced in Lagos. ‘Deserving of mention is the rewarding synergy the Lagos State Police Command under my watch had with sister security agencies including the military, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, etc.’
L-R: Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; Immediate Past Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command/AIG Zone 2, AIG Abiodun Alabi and DC Operations, DCP Isa Grema
‘Worthy of special note is the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA), a grassroots agency of the state government that has done a whole lot in providing regular, timely and actionable intelligence to the Command, which in turn has helped in nipping several crimes in the bud and keeping Lagos State safer and secured. I equally want to specially appreciate the Police Community Relations Committee for their unwavering support to the Command. Members of the Eminent Persons Forum are appreciated too’, NAOSNP can report.
On the forthcoming elections, the new AIG of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun states) affirmed that all hands are on deck. ‘We have reached an advanced stage in our election security preparations under the aegis of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), headed by INEC and having the Police and other security agencies on board. I trust my successor to seamlessly continue with the plans and deliver a safe and secure atmosphere for the elections.’
L-R: PPRO Lagos Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin; Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa. and Immediate Past Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command/AIG Zone 2, AIG Abiodun Alabi
Concluding on the note of congratulations and soliciting support for his successor, AIG Abiodun Alabi said: ‘As I handover today the duties and responsibilities of Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, I earnestly urge all Lagosians and the press to accord the new Commissioner of Police, CP Idowu Owohunwa, maximum support in the discharge of his duty of piloting the affairs of safety and security of lives and property in the state.’
‘CP Idowu Owohunwa is a fine officer with lots of local and international exposure both academically and professionally. I have known him for a long time and have no doubt that he would raise the bar higher than where I am leaving it today. I equally congratulate CP Idowu Owohunwa for attaining this position and wish him the best in the challenging task of policing an ever expanding megacity’, Alabi concluded.
L-R: Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Apostle Kehinde Showemimo; CP Lagos Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa; Immediate Past CP Lagos Command/AIG Zone 2, AIG Abiodun Alabi and Board Member, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan
