Alleged phone theft: Lagos CP set to conduct thorough investigation, insists policemen were wrongly accused
By Tobi Adetunji
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered investigation into the violent attacks and theft allegation against two policemen who were said to have stolen mobile phones.
The Police boss said, this becomes pertinent as a result of the viral video which captured the two mobile policemen and painted them as thieves. He said it was a calculated attempt by mischievous element to ridicule and portray the police in bad light.
“The Command wishes to state categorically that the authors of the referred viral video painted the incident mischievously in a bad light with an attempt to ridicule the entire Nigeria Police Force as the policemen never went to buy phones, neither were they caught in any act of theft in the computer village.”
In a statement by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, Odumosu affirmed that the incident which happened last week Friday at 30, Awolowo Road, Opposite Glass House, Ikeja, Lagos was a collaborative effort between the HP Electronics Company’s Taskforce on piracy and Policemen to curb anti-piracy and substandard product in Computer village.
“Odumosu affirmed that said Policemen never went to buy phones, nor were they caught in any act of theft in the computer village.
“He said, The HP Electronics Company’s Taskforce on piracy, in company of some police operatives, were at the shop located at No 30, Awolowo Road, Opposite Glass House, Ikeja, Lagos, on a routine operation against piracy and sub-standard products in the market when some hoodlums suddenly became violent and attacked the team.
“They went ahead by creating a scene, calling them thieves and passing uncomplementary comments on the policemen in order to distract and halt the anti-piracy operation.
“The team was chased away by the hoodlums and did not allow the operation to succeed due to their criminal tendencies.
“ Without mincing words, the Lagos State Police command wishes to clear the air and disabuse the minds of the general public that the policemen captured in the video are not thieves but operatives on official and legal operation at the computer village contrary to the wrong impression painted by the originators of the fake video on the social media.
“Premised on this, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the theft allegation and attacks on the policemen and team which would be the third of its kind in recent time in the same computer village; noting that the command will not tolerate any act of criminality and lawlessness in any part of the state.
“While commending the act of professionalism and maturity of the policemen and team to avert chaos in the area.”
Odumosu warned the general public to desist from launching attacks on the police and other security agents, either on official duty or off duty, and peddling fake news as such would be a dent on national integrity and honour.
