Patrolling Lagos at night: CP Adegoke on the match

FOR long, there have been serious complaints by residents of Lagos over the absence of policemen at night in major areas of the city. 

From the highbrow Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island areas of the city to the densely populated areas of Ajangbadi, Iyana Ipaja, Iyana Ishachi, Ogba, Badagry, Iyana Oworo etc, extending to the capital city, Ikeja, policing, in the past, stops at midnight. 

Between the hours of midnight and morning, it will be like ‘to your tents Oh Israel’ as both motorists and pedestrians traverse the length and breadth of the city without feeling police presence. Aside this, whatever services you may encounter is always skeletal and this happens in major areas that are less prone to criminal activities.

However, the situation is gradually changing with the arrival of the new Commissioner of Police, Fayoade Adegoke who seems to have taken up the gauntlet and vowed to break the jinx so that Lagosians will sleep with both eyes closed. 

Since his assumption of duties last month, the police boss has succeeded in turning the table, fighting crime and criminality has taken a new twist for the better. He has re-kindled hope to, not just night crawlers, but people whose engagements spill over to the wee hours of the night. 

The resultant effect of his gigantic stride is that all the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers are now forced to spend long hours and even sleep at their respective areas of jurisdiction for fear of not seen to be absent from duty whenever the commissioner arrives.

Last week, CP Fakayode permeated the nooks and crannies of Oloja, Alagemo, Igbiafa, Ijede creeks in overnight surveillance where he read riot act to all criminals in the state that it would be better for them to leave before they are caught. 

He undertook a midnight till dawn patrol tour from 12:45 am to 6.30am, touched down in Area H Command en route Ogudu Division to Alapere Divisional headquarters, where he met with the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and other officers on duty during the unannounced night visitation and put the men on red alert about his zero tolerance for criminals in the state.

A community leader in Ikorodu who spoke with Vanguard, Otunba Adekeye said: “With this uncommon show of security consciousness and this singular act of night patrol, CP Adegoke has in no small measure stamped the fact that the police are not sleeping over security matters.

"It will, no doubt, strengthen the confidence of the people that the police can ensure security of lives and properties in Lagos.”

A security expert who witnessed the rare show in Ikorodu, Elder Tony Uwem told Vanguard, “From what we are seeing, there is no doubt that CP Adegoke is in the state to alter the security narratives especially at the grassroots for overall good of all residents."  

Going by the precarious security situation in the country at the moment, a very worrisome concern, Lagos cannot ask for a better cop to man the command than Adegoke.

CP Adegoke Fayoade was deployed to the state in December, 2023 and ever since coming on board, he has not relented in tackling the enormous challenges headlong.  His impressive performance so far has endeared him to the governor of the state and he pledged to donate 300 operational vehicles to the command and empower other security agencies in the state. While making the pledge, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated unequivocally that, “the government is pledging to pursue policies fostering the well-being of all Lagosians and building a secure and inclusive community. To address critical needs, the state government, in collaboration with the local governments, needs to, indeed, looks for a clear strategy to refit all the ageing vehicles that we have in the Lagos State Police Command, the RRS, and all other support agencies. So, I will ensure that between us and the local governments, in the course of early next year, we will donate 300 brand new vehicles to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, h stated.