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Crime reporters honour Marwa,
Lagos CP, others
CHARLES OBASI
FORMER
Military Administrator of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa, and Lagos State
Commissioner for Police, Israel Ajao were among persons honoured Thursday by
Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN).
Equally honoured at the event which took
place at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, are chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement
Agency, Alhaji Bello Lafiaji; Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PRRO),
Emmanuel Ighodalo, commander of Area ‘G’ Ogba, Mr. Sam Ojehume and police
officer Gabriel Ismaila said to have rejected the sum of N1.5 million as bribe.
In a key note address the Peoples
Democratic Party vice chairman, South-West Chief Olabode George, commended the
association for its commitment to reporting criminal activities in the society
which he said, has assisted security agents to intercept criminals in their
hideouts.
Chief George who was represented by Dr.
Fillih on the occasion praised the initiative of CRAN even as he said before the
advent of the present administration in 1999, Nigeria ranked among the highest
in armed robbery and violent crimes.
"The popular Advanced fee fraud (419),
Bank fraud and other related financial crimes were almost becoming part of the
system then. But today, it has reduced drastically due to unrelenting efforts of
the various security agencies. "The establishment of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) amongst other agencies, is a pointer to a renewed
commitment by the government to tackle these menace head on in our society
George noted.
He said the impact of the National Agency
for Food and Drug administration and control (NAFDAC) Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
are being applauded locally and internationally.
Mr. Dipo Kehinde said the event was a
celebration of the fact that Nigerians are not as bad as most people to portray
them.
"Today, we see policemen who have refused
to accept million naira bribe and a policeman who single handedly disarmed
robbers. Today, we hear of the glorious deeds of narcotic Agents and police
officers who have kept armed robbers and drug pushers at bay, making our
society, safe and secure", Kehinde observed.
The award ceremony he said was to
celebrate men who have given Nigeria new confidence and reasons to believe that
Nigerians are good, hardworking and honest people.
Brigadier General Marwa who was honoured
with Anti-crime Award, said security is an amorphous concept encompassing both
internal and external threats that stem from interplay of factors.
Among those so rewarded include Obed Igwe,
the man that petitioned the police on activities of the Okija shrine; Azubike
Ekwerekwe for anti-piracy and anti-robbery. He also received the anti crime
award.
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