Criminals in Lagos are making pistols, AK-47s – CP Owohunwa

Idowu Owohunwa, the commissioner of police for Lagos State, has claimed that criminal elements in the region are becoming more skilled at manufacturing firearms locally.

At the state command Complaint Response Unit’s unveiling on Wednesday by acting Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, he revealed this.

According to Owohunwa, the weapons include AK47s and other assault rifles, as well as copies of pistols made abroad.

The state’s security is at serious risk as a result of the trend and the uptick in cult activities, the police chief continued.

The thin line between civil and criminal dynamics of land disputes, which are also common in the state, is something we constantly have to analyse and deal with, he continued. Traffic congestion and the sporadic traffic robberies it causes are also regularly concerning, and they are made worse by the state’s ongoing road projects, particularly those on the Lagos-Ibadan highway. The prevalence of illegal firearms, illegal drug use, and traffic robberies further accentuate the state’s crime profile.

“Hardly a day goes by without the command’s ever-vigilant agents discovering weapons and illegal substances of various kinds during stop-and-search operations, raids of hot spots, and other operational engagements; all such discoveries are connected to the completion of crimes across the state. The most concerning aspect of all of this is a discernible pattern that points to growing local proficiency in the production of different types of firearms, including copies of pistols, AK-47s, and other rifles made abroad.

Owohunwa urged all strategically important state actors as well as the populace to support the police in their efforts to stem the dangerous tide. In an effort to start a conversation about containing cultism and violent crimes in the state, he mentioned that the command would arrange a conference in the upcoming weeks.

However, Egbetokun cautioned police officers to abstain from improper behaviour and adhere to professionalism.

He made particular note of how allegations of extortion against police officers have damaged the reputation of the force.

Egbetokun revealed that personnel mobilisation had started in response to the proposed creation of a special intervention squad.

He claimed that this was consistent with ongoing initiatives to purge criminal elements from some troubled regions of the nation.

If you have been following our activities ever since I took over as acting Inspector General of Police, he said, “you will know that we have taken steps to ensure that crime is kept to a minimum and to restore security to troubled areas. To eliminate criminal elements terrorising drivers on the Abuja-Kaduna route, we are taking the necessary action. You’re going to start seeing results very soon.

“We’re starting the process of creating a special intervention squad. To make that a success, we have begun mobilising. And in the states that we have selected as pilot states, the SIS will soon begin to operate. Give us a little more time, and you’ll start to see the fruits of our labour.

“Fortunately, we have a government in place that is concerned about the problems relating to welfare and the well-being of the police officers. Mr. President has assured me that efforts are being made to put smiles on Nigerian police officers’ faces.