Lagos State Police Command is set to overhaul the state crime-fighting machinery with the inauguration of a committee to reorganise Special Anti-Robbery and Anti-Kidnapping and Cultism Squads.

Inaugurating the eleven-member committee, Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi said restructuring the crime-fighting units was vital to achieving his goal of reducing criminality to the barest minimum in the state.

Imohimi said this was in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police that all police investigating units should be restructured to discharge their duties in line with international best practices and standards of policing.

According to him, the committee would look into the present and past activities of State Anti-Robbery Squad, Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism units and recommend ways to make them more efficient and professional.

He urged the committee to look into all allegations of human rights abuses against officers and men of the units and give recommendations to prevent reoccurrence.

Imohimi also requested the body to profile personnel currently posted to the units and determine their suitability to continue in the unit.

“The committee is also to make recommendations and suggestions for immediate training of officers and men of the units on principles and tenets of fundamental human rights and rule of law.

” The recommendations of the committee is aimed at stopping worrisome issues like investigation of civil matters, torture, illegal detentions, safety and custody of exhibits, welfare of suspects and molestation,”he said.

The committee which included, President, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria Oditah Sunday and headed by a retired commissioner of police, Samuel Agbebuyi, has two weeks to submit its report.

Imohimi urged the public to send memoranda to the committee through the secretary’s email bolajislm@yahoo.com,effy3uyah@gmail.com, or through WhatsApp on 08033011644, 08033108820 and 08125151772 or to the nearest Area Commands and Divisional Police Stations.

Responding, Agbebuyi thanked the police command for giving the committee the opportunity to serve and assured that the panel would come up with recommendations worthy of emulation by other states.

Other members of the committee were DCP Bolaji Salami of the State CID as well as ACP Abiodun Alamutu and ACP Olatunji Disu of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) commander.

Others were CSP Effiong Asuquo, CSP Adebola Ojugbele, CSP Sanusi Mohammed (O/C SARS), CSP Anthony Okosun (O/C Anti-Kidnapping), SP Kehinde Johnson-Oni (O/C Anti-Cultism) and Mr Stanley Imhanruor from Femi Falana Chambers.