The donation of twelve patrol vehicles by the six council and LCDA Chairmen in Ikorodu Division at an impressive handover event which took place at the Ikorodu Central local government, has been adjudged a morale boosting by residents and different security formations in Ikorodu.
The twelve patrol vehicles were purchased by the Lagos State government on behalf of the state's fifty-seven local council and LCDAs also known as Conference 56, in Lagos State through the State Security Trust Fund which was designed to help the state and local government curtailed the menace of robberies and other criminal activities.
At the hand-over event, which was attended by five of the six chairmen in Ikorodu division – Alhaji Sheriff Anipole (Ikorodu Central LG), Alhjai (Chief) Adeola Muyideen Jokomba (Ikorodu North LCDA), Hon. (Prince) Adefarasin Saheed Hassan (Ijede LCDA), Hon. Gbenga Basanya (Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA) and Hon (Princess) Jumoke Jumbo-Ademehin (Ikorodu West LCDA).
At the event were also Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, Hon. Omobowale Waheed, (vice chairman Ikorodu local government), Hon. Haruna Ishola Balogun, (vice chairman Ikorodu North LCDA), Alhaji M.K. Sanni, (chairman Neighbourhood Watch Lagos State), Chief Kamorudeen Oshikabala Bombata, (Head Local Vigilante Group "Onyabo"), Alhaji Abiodun, Alhaja Taofeekat Allison, (Iya-Oloja General Ikorodu Division), SP Patrick Onwa, (DPO Ikorodu Divisional Police Headquarters), SP Bernard Edia Gbonyan, (DPO Shagamu road Police Station), Hon. Japheth Odesanya, Secretary to the Ikorodu Local government), Hon. Azeez Olosugbo Azeez, Hon. Abayomi Shamsideen and Hon. Oshodi Olohunwa.
Alhaji Sherif Adisa Anipole, in his address, delivered on behalf of other chairmen, said it is a great pleasure that Ikorodu Division is coming back to its normal peaceful community it is known for. He was quick to add that it does not imply that it is crime free, but the criminal activities has drastically reduced due to the different efforts of security bodies which include Nigerian Police in Ikorodu, especially the establishment of Area N in jede, local vigilante group popularly known as 'Onyabo' and Neighbourhood Watch.
Anipole pledged more financial and moral supports for the security outfits whenever the financial situation in the councils improve, but was also quick to implore the beneficiaries that they should make good use of the vehicles and make it serve the purpose they were procured for.
Unfortunately, only ten of the twelve vehicles were on parade and actually handed over to the following- Igbogbo Police Station (Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA), Ibeshe Police Station (Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA), Rofo Police Station, Odogunyan (Ikorodu North LCDA), Shagamu road Police Station (Ikorodu Central LG), Local Vigilante Group "Onyabo" (Ikorodu division in general), Ikorodu Divisional Police Headquarters, Igbogbo road (Ikorodu Central LG), Owutu Police Station (Ikorodu West LCDA), Ipakodo Police Station (Ikorodu West LCDA), Ijede Police Station (Ijede LCDA) and Area N Command (Ijede LCDA).
The other two vehicles are said to have been withheld by the Imota LCDA chairman, Hon. Adekunle Adebogun, who was said to have refused all entreaties to release the two vehicles to be shared between Imota police station (Imota LCDA) and Neighbourhood Watch (Ikorodu Division in general).
On behalf of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Area N Commander, SP Patrick Onwu thanked the six chairmen and pledged that crime will be stamped out with the help of the vehicles as there will be quick response from every angle in Ikorodu to any distress call.
Onwu, who also represented the Area N Commander, ACP A.O. Markus at the event accepted the vehicles on his behalf and reinstated his men's readiness to fight crime to a standstill as there will be no excuse again for any lapse. But like Oliver Twist, Onwu requested of the council chairmen to help in the fueling of the vehicles as police do not get any special grant for vehicles fueling.
Stepping out of the Ikorodu local government Secretariat hall, Alhaji Sherif Anipole led other four chairmen to unveil the vehicles before each of the chairmen handed the vehicles to each formation in their jurisdiction.
On behalf of the Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Area N Commander, SP Patrick Onwu thanked the six chairmen and pledged that crime will be stamped out with the help of the vehicles as there will be quick response from every angle in Ikorodu to any distress call.Onwu, who also represented the Area N Commander, ACP A.O. Markus at the event accepted the vehicles on his behalf and reinstated his men's readiness to fight crime to a standstill as there will be no excuse again for any lapse. But like Oliver Twist, Onwu requested of the council chairmen to help in the fueling of the vehicles as police do not get any special grant for vehicles fueling.
Stepping out of the Ikorodu local government Secretariat hall, Alhaji Sherif Anipole led other four chairmen to unveil the vehicles before each of the chairmen handed the vehicles to each formation in their jurisdiction.
If the refusal of Imota LCDA chairman, Hon. Ibikunle Adebogun in releasing two patrol vehicles as agreed by the six chairmen is anything to go by, then all may not be well with the six councils in Ikorodu division.
The six chairmen in Ikorodu division after taking delivery of the two patrol vehicles, agreed on an arrangement to redistribute the vehicles across the division. But while other five chairmen submitted theirs Ikorodu Central Council, the Imota chairman, Hon. Ibikunle Adebogun refused honouring the arrangement.
Alhaji Sherif Anipole, in his speech during the formal presentation of the vehicles to police and other security formations across the division, said that he did not know why Hon. Adebogun refused bringing the vehicles as agreed by the chairmen.
In a chat with members of the press, Alhaji Anipole emphasized that several calls were put to the Imota LCDA chairman without any response and he did not call back. He expressed dismay over Adebogun's refusal to honour the collective arrangement of the chairmen."The chairmen in the division agreed to a certain arrangement on how the vehicles will be distributed across the division, but Imota did not honour the arrangement. I have personally called his phone this severally this morning but he did not pick my calls. I challenge anybody to fault our agreed redistribution. The two vehicles are meant for Imota police station and Neigbourhood Watch, which serves the entire Division", said Anipole.
When further asked the Conference fifty-seven will do if Imota refused to release the vehicles, Anipole said the issue will be reported to the party leaders.
In a chat with a party leader, it was revealed that the Imota chairman's failure to honour the agreed arrangement should not be isolated from general political instability in Ikorodu as other councils especially Imota do no longer see themselves as being part or under Ikorodu, which also reflects in the denial of Ayangburen's position by the Ranodu of Imota.
On November 26, 2012, when our reporter visited Imota LCDA secretariat, the two patrol vehicles were seen parked in the council. The chairman could not be reached as he was away to United State of America.
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