The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh, has warned that the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) may be dissolved if cases of misconduct and human rights violations persist.
Jimoh, who spoke at a press briefing in Ikeja on Saturday, said the command would no longer tolerate unprofessional conduct among officers attached to the unit, particularly amid rising allegations of extortion and abuse.
According to The Cable, the commissioner said the police would not shield any officer found culpable of wrongdoing.
He said, “We are not going to defend any police officers who embark on any wrongdoing. We won’t.”
The commissioner noted that recent complaints against the task force, including allegations of extortion and involvement in civil matters, have raised concerns among residents.
A viral video showing operatives allegedly arresting lawyers over a land dispute had further fuelled criticism of the unit’s activities.
Reacting to the development, Jimoh said the command had already taken disciplinary steps in previous cases and would not hesitate to act again if necessary.
“If I can charge five police officers to court for the case in Owode Onirin, then who will I not discipline if there is wrongdoing?” he said.
He added that officers accused of misconduct would be investigated, urging members of the public to provide credible evidence to aid the process.
Jimoh stressed that the command had issued a strong warning to task force officials, making it clear that further verified cases of abuse could lead to drastic action.
“We have read the riot act to them… that if I have a complaint of any wrongdoing again, and it is verifiable and investigated, I will not hesitate to dissolve the entire task force and bring in a new set of officers to join them,” he said.
The commissioner disclosed that reforms were already underway, including the deployment of newly screened officers to the unit.
“As we speak, we have been posting new officers to the task force after thorough background checks, training, and reorientation,” he added.
He also said the command plans to collaborate with civil society organisations and human rights groups to improve accountability and professionalism within the unit.
“We are going to engage human rights organisations and CSOs so that we can broaden their minds on human rights,” Jimoh stated.
Recall the Lagos State Task Force has dismissed allegations that its operatives towed a vehicle in Ijesha and demanded ₦250,000 for its release, describing the claim as false and malicious.
The agency’s spokesperson, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the vehicle in question was not in the custody of the task force, adding that the report was part of attempts to discredit the agency.
He maintained that the unit would continue to enforce traffic and environmental laws without compromise, urging residents to submit verifiable complaints through official channels.
The commissioner, however, reiterated that the police command remains open to feedback from residents as part of efforts to address lapses and improve service delivery across the state.
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