By Oghenekevwe Laba
LAGOS JULY 11TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The Lagos State Security Council on Wednesday met under the chairmanship of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the council re-affirming its decision to prosecute owners of abandoned buildings or structures used as hide out by criminals alongside such offenders.
A statement signed Mr Hakeem Bello Special Adviser on Media to Lagos State Governor Mr Babatubde Fashola made available to URHOBOTODAY disclosed that State Police Commissioner, Mr Umaru Manko who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting at Lagos House, Ikeja, said for any landlord who keeps a criminal in his house, he should also be regarded as a criminal.
According to the Commissioner, the Council observed that despite repeated warnings some owners of uncompleted buildings and plots of land have failed to take any action therefore turning the place into haven for criminals.
“We have deliberated on that and the story is just simple. You either take responsibility for undeveloped plots or buildings so that criminals would not have a hiding place in those areas as the government directed before or forfeit them”.
Mr Manko said the meeting also reviewed the security of the state and is satisfied that to some extent, the state has made impressive progress and where there are still issues, they will be tackled effectively.
On the influx of people into Lagos State, the Police Commissioner said Lagos is the safest state in the country today and as such no one can stop people from coming in, stressing that security agencies only have problems with people who come to Lagos for criminal activities.
“Those criminals are being warned in their own interest that they should keep off the state. People who are coming for genuine business should come, Lagos is safe for them but criminals will have something to do if they come here”, Mr Manko added
Those present at the briefing include the State Director of the State Security Service, Mr Ben Achu Olayi, Commander 9 Brigade Ikeja Cantonment, Brigadier General Adeniyi Oyebade, Commanding Officer NNS Beecroft Apapa, Navy Commodore Odogwu Ezekobe, and Commander 435 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Sunday Wukangha and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (rtd).