Edgal Imohimi, the Lagos State commissioner of police, has mapped out measures to curb the activities of robbers who residents complain specialise in destroying cars parked by the roadside in some neighbourhoods.

The police commissioner directed the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to carry out strings of operations in their areas of responsibilities, according to CSP Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman.

CSP Oti said Imohimi advised all communities in the state to adopt the security measures in order to improve security in their vicinity.

“All streets/communities should as a matter of urgency appoint a Chief Security Officer (CSO) from their midst. This exercise is to be coordinated by the CDA of such area,’’ the police spokesman said.

“Secondly, it will be the responsibility of the CSO to get the phone numbers of DPOs, operation officers and patrol and guard officers closest to them and distribute same widely to members of their community.’’

Also, CSP Oti said it will be the responsibility of the CSO to arrange for street guards who will keep watch at night and raise the alarm when necessary to frustrate night marauders.

“It will be the responsibility of the CSO to reinvigorate and coordinate the already existing joint vigilante/police patrol at night between 12 midnight and 4am in conjunction with the DPO of that locality,” he said.

“In areas where vigilance groups have not been formed in accordance with laid down legal/operational modalities earlier issued by the Commissioner of Police, it will be the responsibility of the CSO to immediately liaise with his DPO to ensure that these vigilance groups are set up.”

The commissioner of police has also observed that the two toll free lines, 767/112 are jammed due to call traffic. To reduce the strain on these lines, the commissioner has released the 10 numbers domiciled at the Citizen Complaint Hot Centre (CCHC) for use by communities to alert law enforcement officers, according to CSP Oti.

“The numbers are 08067945296, 08063025274, 08063104759, 08113615350, 08113683077, 08096283148,08096283173, 08089781657, 08126404930, 08081426895,” the police spokesman said. “It will be the responsibility of the CSO to ensure that these lines are given widest publicity.”

Continuing, the police spokesman said, “The commissioner wishes to reiterate that security is not only a joint endeavour but an expensive business. He enjoins communities to pay their security dues to enable CSOs to put in place street guards to complement the effort of the police.

“The commissioner assures Lagosians of security in the remaining part of the yuletide season and enjoins them to celebrate and enjoy moderately during the festive period.”

•Sourced from a BusinessDay report