Community policing: Lagos constables won’t carry arms – Police

Olumuyiwa Adejobi

Spokesperson of the police in Lagos Olumuyiwa Adejobi says the 1,250 special constabulary officers newly deployed to boost security in different parts of the state will not carry firearms.

He told PUNCH on Wednesday that there is no provision for such at the moment, adding that it is subject to change.

“For now, there is no provision for that. But everything in life is subject to change; maybe later there will be a law that will back that but for now, there is no provision for them to carry arms,” Mr Adejobi said.

The constables were officially deployed on Tuesday in a ceremony at the Police College, Ikeja.

Adejobi also said the constables would be attached to divisional headquarters in all of the state’s 20 local government areas.

The officers were deployed as part of the Federal Government’s community policing initiative to combat crime and criminal activities.

The police spokesman said the officers were selected without age barrier from all the local government councils in the state.

“This is the first batch and more batches will be released as long as the state government is willing to assist in mopping them up and release logistics for training.

“They were selected at various communities with the help of the Obas, the local government chairmen, community leaders, religious leaders, market leaders, youth wings, and all the stakeholder,” he said.