INTER-AGENCY SYNERGY: NIGERIAN ARMY DELEGATION VISITS LAGOS STATE TASKFORCE 

… Parties Emphasise Need For Esprit De Corps, Respect For Rules Of Engagement

A committee of senior officers of the Nigerian Army (NA) today paid a working visit to the office of the Lagos State Task Force Chairman, CSP Akerele. 

Delivering his address, Colonel Charles Nwonyi, Commander of the Military Police Unit of the 81 Division, stated that the committee was at the Taskforce on the instruction of the military high command to reiterate its displeasure over the unfortunate incident of the 9th of October, 2024, during which, a military personnel stabbed and killed a police officer attached to the taskforce while carrying out his statutory duty to arrest and confiscate the soldier’s vehicle for driving against traffic (one-way), along Iyana-Iba, Ojo Cantonment area.

Colonel Nwonyi maintained that the culprit has since been arrested and the military high command is currently investigating the matter with a desirous view to apply the appropriate disciplinary penalties as quickly as possible. He added that the NA is vigorously working on practical measures to enhance its working synergy with sister security agencies and by extension other paramilitary bodies.

Responding, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Akerele Adetayo thanked the team for the visit and expressed the agency’s appreciation of the genuine concern shown by the Nigerian Army on the misdemeanours of their personnel, one of which led to the painful death of inspector Saka Ganiyu in the line of duty.

CSP Akerele narrated how the unruly conduct of disobedient military operatives has become a menace directly in conflict with the statutory mandate of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Taskforce) to enforce Lagos State Transport Sector Laws, one of which is to arrest and impound motorcycles driven by any person on all of the prohibited routes and zones across Lagos State.

The Chairman emphasised the dedication of the agency to carry out its duties to the letter, calling on the military high command to increase efforts in sensitising its personnel on the need to work within the ambit of the laws always.

CSP Akerele promised to give every support needed to the Nigerian Army, in the course of the investigation to establish justice for the fallen police officer, to serve as a deterrent to disobedient security operatives across all agencies concerned

Other members of the visiting delegation were the Naval Police Commander of the Airforce Base (Sam Ethan); MK Mohammed; Major Akoh and Squadron Leader A. Arekekun. both of the Sam Ethnan Airforce Base, Lagos. The meeting also has in attendance the Second in Command to the Chairman of Lagos State Task Force, SP Abutu Tony; Head of the Department of Environmental Services, Lagos State Task Force, Mr.Asokere Samson Sedonu; Assistant Director (Account), Mrs. Bisi Adeniran; DSP Adeyemi Adewale and ASP Ademola Ayorinde.

The meeting was part of the efforts of the two establishment commitments to foster a robust and cordial working relationship between the Nigerian Army and other security operatives in the State.