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Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday cautioned the police in the state against harassment, intimidation and extortion of residents if they wanted to be respected.
Dr. Obasa issued the warning on the floor of the House when the lawmakers honoured the outgoing Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, who has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and due to retire in January 2022.
Obasa said Odumosu was honoured as the first Commissioner of Police in the state to stand before the lawmakers in the hallowed chamber and address Lagosians on his experience and issues with policing Lagos because he is considered to have effectively managed the security of the state.
“It is important to call on those behind you to know that the relationship between the police and the people need to be constantly improved upon,” Obasa said adding that men of the Nigeria Police Force needed to build more trust among the people and make the latter know they are truly being served.
“Everybody must be treated with respect, dignity and honour and that is how we can earn our respect. Policing should not be about harassment and extortion but building trust among the people and making them comfortable,” Obasa advised.
The Commissioner of Police, who led a team of officers to the House, thanked the lawmakers for their support. According to him, nothing could have been achieved in terms of security and peace in the State without the assistance of the House led by Speaker Obasa.
He said he would remain grateful to Lagos and Lagosians for making it possible for him and his team to effectively manage the security of the state and making it the most peaceful in the country.
Odumosu, who described Lagos as a mini-Nigeria, noted that the proactiveness of the Lagos Assembly resulted in the laws that have helped the police remain successful in the state.
