Disturbed by the alarming increase in cult related crimes in Lagos State, the Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has swore to wipe out cultism and send it’s patron’s to prison.

Edgal, who was addressing security stakeholders in Alimosho Area of the state under the auspices of the lnspector-General of Police, Eminent person forum, held in an event centre within Area ‘M’ police Command, ldimu, warned parents to monitor the activities of their children or risk their imprisonment.

In this regard, he revealed a new collaboration synergy between his command and the Judiciary, whereby cult related cases would henceforth be treated with dispatch and offenders sent to prison.

“It is no longer business as usual, l have visited the state chief Judge and we have a working synergy that would ensure that all cult convicts gets maximum punishment,” he said.

Stressing on the vital role of community policing, the CP noted that the present 28,000 strength of police officers in Lagos with only 17,000 operationally active, was grossly inadequate in policing Lagos State with over 22 million residents.

Hence he urged residents to establish vigilante and security groups in their area, assuring that he had directed the Area ‘ M’ commander, Austine Akika, an Assistant commissioner of police, to assign a minimum of three Armed police officers to always accompany such vigilante groups on daily night patrol of their areas.

“For continued peace and safety in Lagos, there must be public partnership with police, where vital information is giving out promptly. Resident should start operation know your neighbour and should see something and say something.”

While appealing to the chairman in the Local Council Development Areas (LCDA), to provide logistics to the vigilante groups, Edgar advised parents to discourage their children from involving in cultism.

Earlier the CP had paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Isheri- Olofin, Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun, where he directed that a functional police pin-down point be established at Isheri- Olofin Round About to beef-up surveillance and curb the menace of criminal’s.

Oba Ayinde had earlier while commending Edgal and Akika for their feats in taming “Badoo” cult, robbers, kidnappers, in Lagos and bringing the activities of cultists in Alimosho to the nearest minimum, requested for more functional operational vehicles to Area “M” command.

However, praising Edgal on his active crime fighting methods, chairman of Egbe/ Idimu LCDA, Hon. Kunle Sanyaolu Olowoopejo promised to repair all police patrol vehicles that had broken down within the police Division under Area “M” command.

Prominent monarchs, police officers and residents in Lagos attended the event.