Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni

Cyriacus Izuekwe

The Lagos State police commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni has raised alarm over high rate of cultism and domestic crimes in various homes in Lagos State Western Nigeria.

Cp Owoseni stated this on Wednesday when he paraded over 25 suspected criminals arrested at the ikeja police state headquarters in Lagos.

He noted that the police was doing its best to prevent crimes in the State and stated that crimes have drastically reduced to the barest minimum.

However, he pointed out two key crimes areas of serious concern to the police, which are activities of cultism and crimes committed in various homes by domestic drivers and house maids.

Owoseni warned residents to mind who they employ as drivers and house maid as investigation have revealed that they are conduit used by criminals to steal in various homes in the state.

He said drivers and house helps are now been used to perpetrate crimes and warned those engaging them to be cautious of who they employ in their homes. On cultism, he observed that it is on the high increase in various areas in the state. He mentioned such areas include, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ajah among others.

Police boss reiterated that the police will continue to get rid of any form of criminality in the state despite the challenges. He revealed that for the past three months, the police have arrested about 754 suspected criminals and out of the number 494 were charged to court and 298 convicted.

He said from the total number of arrests, 260 was screened and released after investigation while 145 are still in awaiting trial at various courts.

He also said the police recovered 27 guns and 64 live ammunition and 33 brands of vehicles were all recovered during the period in review.

He also revealed that 255 motorcycles were recovered and many suspects arrested who pretended to be operators.

He said those paraded were arrested at various areas in the State for committing various crimes. He said some are robbers, motorcycles and car snatchers and those who specialized in robbing patients and hospitals.

He thanked the public and other various security agents for their support in combating crimes and assured that the police will continue to improve on their strategies to make the state crime free.

Some of the suspects paraded confessed of committing the crimes which Owoseni said they will be prosecuted after the conclusion of investigation.