The Nigeria Police has said that it is looking into the challenges faced by its marine unit, the Marine Police, with a view to making it function effectively.
The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Emmanuel Ojukwu, a Commissioner of Police, said that all the unit’s broken down boats would be repaired.
He also said efforts were on to deploy new boats to the Lagos Command of the Force. “This is to enable the unit’s officers and men meet the challenges of crime, especially the ones posed by the recent robbery attacks in the area.We are re-strategising the marine police operation to check criminal activities using the inland waterways,” Ojukwu said.
At present, only three of the 11 speedboats being used by the Command are serviceable.
“We don’t have boats to race in the quickest time for rescue mission. The highest speedboat in our fleet is 100 horsepower. We have the manpower, as well as the arms to handle any situation, but we don’t have adequate means of mobility for urgent mission. We appeal to the Federal and Lagos State Governments for new speedboats,” a Policeman at the Command’s jetty on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, said.
By Pita Ochai
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