I’ll Disband Lagos Task Force If… –CP

By Gabriel Ogunlana

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Moshood Jimoh, has stated conditions that could push him to dissolve the unit under his control which is responsible for the enforcement of environment and traffic laws.

Moshood stressed that if there’s a clear evidence of human rights violations and other forms of high-handedness he might consider the dissolution of the unit which is known as state task force.

The Lagos police boss disclosed this on Saturday during a press briefing adding that the command will no longer tolerate unprofessionalism.

Moshood’s warning may have been prompted by the deluge of allegations of extortion and other human rights violations levelled against police officers attached to the task force.

Recall that a video by Objectv Media recently went viral revealing how the task force’s operatives arrested and manhandled lawyers over land matters.

The viral video provoked outrage with many seeking to know where land matters fall under legal jurisdiction.

Concerned about the development Jimoh said the command will no longer condone inhumanity while promising to investigate any officer accused of extortion, torture, and other human rights abuses.

Moshood urged members of the public, particularly those individuals affected, not to withhold vital information from the command stressing that it will aid the authorities to conduct easy investigation into such matters.

“We are not going to defend any police officers who embarks on any wrongdoing. We won’t,” he said.

Moshood “If I can charge five police officers to court for the case in Owode Onirin, then who will I not discipline if there is wrongdoing?

“We want the general public to know that we are not covering the task force. We have read the riot act to them yesterday that if I have a complaint of any wrongdoing again, and it is verifiable and investigated, I will not hesitate to dissolve the entire task force and bring in a new set of officers to join them.

“As we speak, we have been posting new officers to the task force after thorough background checks, training, and reorientation.

“We are going to engage human rights organisations and CSOs so that we can broaden their minds on human rights.”