Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said the command was working with sister security agencies to arrest the suspected militants that killed four policemen, an army captain and a civilian today.
Owoseni made the promise in a statement on Sunday while responding to the killings by militants in Isawo area of Ikorodu in Lagos State.
His statement, the first by any top security official, clarified earlier reports that two soldiers were killed.
The commissioner said that the officers were killed while trying to rescue some people abducted by the unidentified gunmen.
“About 1 a.m of today Sunday April 9, the Police received distress call that a group of militants/kidnappers had entered Owutu-Isawo in Ikorodu through the thick swampy forest surrounding the area.
“They were reported to have kidnapped some residents. In response, the Police and the Army immediately mobilised personnel to the area, where the kidnapped victims were rescued.
“Sadly, however, five out of the gallant, brave and patriotic officers lost their lives during the rescue operation. One of them is a Nigerian Army Captain, while the remaining four are policemen. One of the residents in the area also died.
“We pray that the God Almighty reward their loyalty to the Nation with Paradise and grant their souls peaceful rest.
“We also pray that God gives their respective families the courage to bear the loss,” Owoseni said.
“The Command will like to assure the public that with synergy from sister security agencies, the criminal elements involved in this dastardly act shall be apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law.
“ We will continue to rely on the good people of Lagos State for useful information and their partnership,” he said.
The commissioner said that the officers were killed while trying to rescue some people abducted by the unidentified gunmen, stressing that one army Captain and a civilian were among the six persons killed.
Also, the Lagos State Government, while commiserating with the families of the victims, vowed to get the perpetrators.
In a reaction issued on Sunday by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the government described the incident as unfortunate but insisted that it would only strengthen its resolve to root crime and criminalities out of the State.
The statement said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was deeply touched and condoled with the families and loved ones of the departed officers.
“The Governor, however, assures the Police and general public of his support and commitment to rid the State of every form of militancy, kidnappings, and illegal waterfront shanties that harbour criminals,” Ayorinde said.
Specifically, the State Government stressed that the unfortunate incident in Ishawo had further reinforced its resolve to go after criminal elements and their collaborators who are using coastal areas and illegal waterfront settlements as havens or escape routes to perpetrate evil and criminal activities.
It added that that every perpetrator directly or remotely linked to the Ishawo dastardly act would be brought to justice in the shortest possible time.
“We wish to solicit the understanding and support of the public on the need to rid our waterways of illegal shanties that are not only an eyesore to our collective decency but have become a fertile ground for breeding illicit and illegal activities that constitute danger to the security and well being of the larger public,” the government said.
