Lagos — Four hundred and ninety-four persons were killed in Lagos state between January 2007 and July 2009, but a sharp decline was drastically recorded since the establishment of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) in September 2007, according to the state police command.

The command also said another 98 policemen were killed in different parts of Lagos metropolis during encounters with armed robbers just as the state recorded about 372 armed robbery incidents with varied casualties.

State Commissioner for Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, gave this figure yesterday during the third town hall meeting on security in Ikeja where Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) launched a website for Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSF).

The townhall meeting brought together stakeholders from public sector and corporate organisations including Chairman, LSSTF Board of Trustees, Mr. Remi Makanjuola, LSSTF Executive Secretary, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, Commander, Beecroft Naval Base, Commodore Patrick Ozojiofor, state Commissioner for Establishment, Pension and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwo-Olu and Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi.

While acknowledging that murder cases had declined by 83.8 percent between January 2007 and July 2009, Akpoyibo said 23 armed attacks on different banks were successful and 60 were foiled within the same period.

The commissioner also put the number of those that were kidnapped at 21 between January 2008 and July 2009, seven of which are currently facing criminal charges in different courts of competent jurisdiction in the state. As contained in the graphical extrapolation of the presentation, 221 murder cases were recorded in 2007 alone, 193 in 2008 and 80 had been recorded up till July 2009, though a sharp decline of 83.8 percent in the murder incidents was attributed to concerted efforts by both public and corporate stakeholders .

Other data presented showed that 59 police officers were killed in 2007 alone, 33 recorded in 2007 and the number was put at six up till July 2009, thereby suggesting that the establishment of LSSTF had impacted on the security environment of Lagos state within the same period.

The commissioner put the number of armed robbers arrested at 1,230 between January 2007 and July 2007, 986 arms were recovered, 340 armed robbers killed, 18,480 ammunitions recovered, 2,073 stolen vehicles also recovered and 372 armed robbery incidents were recorded at the period. But in average, about 80 percent decline was recorded.By this development, Arthur-Worrey said about N4.6 billion realised as at December 2008 had brought about significant change in transforming the security environment of Lagos state.

He added that the Fund received additional contributions of N261 million (both in cash and kind).He said: "The Fund was a practical response to the reality of the operational deficiency of the police and other federal security agencies within the state due to long years of neglect by the federal government, practically in areas of funding and provision of modern equipment."The Fund is essentially a public-private partnership response to the challenges of security and to the realisation that the huge demands of security can no longer be met by governments alone. The task of providing security is a collective responsibility from individuals and organisations alike," he said.Speaking at the townhall meeting, Fashola thanked all the stakeholders that made contributions to the Fund in the previous years, acknowledging that their contributions has transformed the security environment of Lagos State substantially despite that there are challenges.He explained that the state had the moral imperative to provide leadership "by examples and this administration has committed over N3 million to the Fund as indicated in the report of the external auditors.

Just a fortnight ago, the Conference of Local Government Council and Local Council Development Area Chairmen donated 114 patrol vehicles to the Lagos State Police Command".The governor stated that the state governor had procured two multi-purpose helicopters for the state police command while 10 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to ensure effective protection of lives and properties in the state.