The National President of Association
of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Mr. Davison
Akhimien has argued that mobile policemen should be stopped from guarding banks
and escorting expatriates from and to airports.
Akhimien stated this during the fund
raising dinner organised by ALPSPN in Lagos. He maintained that policemen
should be allowed to do their core duties, rather than juggling for jobs meant
for private guards.
Akhimien, who said that the dinner
was an annual gathering, where private security practitioners come together to
share ideas, added that private security guards should be allowed to carry fire
arms, why the mobile policemen attach to companies with private guards, will
have time to focus on their core duties.
Akhimien said: “Situations where we
have mobile policemen escorting foreigners from airports should be stopped!
This is the responsibility of the private security guards. Police should go and
carry out their duty. Mobile policemen guarding banks should also be stopped.
That should be the responsibility of private security guards.”
He also said private security guards
should be elevated to provide security for good infrastructures across the
country, rather than policemen.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP),
in Charge of Investigation, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, Mr. Samson Awoniyi, on
his part, noted that cases of bank robberies were now issues that had gone out
of Lagos and Ogun states forever.
His words: “Tackling of bank robbery
cases in both Ogun and Lagos states was made possible by Assistant Inspector
General of Police (AIG), in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Umar Manko, when he was the
commissioner of Lagos State. Manko established a Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS). The SARS was fully armed and given the free hands to carry out
operations without hindrances. The SARS was able to send bank robbers out of
Lagos and Ogun states because it became proactive in fighting crime.”
According to Samson, Lagos and Ogun
State were now a no go area for bank robbers, adding, “Our men in both states
were fully prepared. That was what contributed to reduction of bank robbery the
states.”
The DCP also said that the two commands,
under Zone 2, had fully prepared for the 2015 general election.
He explained that the present Lagos
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti and his Ogun State counterpart,
Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, recently held a meeting with Manko and some politicians from
different political parties. Some stakeholders were also in attendant. They brainstormed
on how to have a free and fair election in their respective states.”
Samson noted that both states were
fully prepared and ready for the election. He said the police have a good
working relationship with the private security companies in Nigeria.
“We complement each other by assisting
in their training and manpower development. There’s no way they can operate
without the police,” said Samson. “I urge private security guards to synergies
with other security agencies.”
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