Crimes

Kidnapping: Police beef up security on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

The Oyo and Ogun State Police Commands said they have beefed up security on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway following the resurgence of criminal activities along the route.

There have been recurring reports of kidnapping and other security challenges along the 131-kilometre ever-busy highway.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adewale Osifes, in a statement on Thursday, said the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams, has vowed to rid the area of undesirable criminal elements.

Williams, in company of his Ogun State counterpart, Lanre Bankole, on Thursday, undertook strategic assessment patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and deployed personnel and assets to forestall further attack.

He said both commands have also restructured the security apparatus around the Lagos-Sagamu-Sapade-Onigari axis.

“The security architecture of both commands were also deliberately remodelled with cooperation from adjoining state police commands to deal decisively with criminal elements.

“Whose mindset is to use both states as criminal hideouts after being dislodged,” the police commissioner stated.

Williams further enjoined the citizens of the states not to panic because of the enhanced presence of security personnel and equipment in the area, noting that there would be joint intelligence-led surveillance, aggressive patrols, combing of forests alongside local hunters and vigilante members, and other permanent visibility policing measures.

He, however, urged the public to provide the police with timely and credible information on suspected criminals around them.

The Star