The Lagos State Police Command has heightened security at shopping malls and government warehouses storing food in the metropolis to thwart potential attacks by troublemakers.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the Southwest region has also increased security around its warehouses.
This preventive action aims to forestall possible assaults on government warehouses and shopping complexes by individuals taking advantage of current hardships and hunger.
Following the recent looting incident in the Federal Capital Territory, where a warehouse was breached, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mrs. Adegoke Fayoade, announced the deployment of plain-clothes policemen to monitor shopping malls and key government installations.
Area commanders and Divisional Police Officers are on red alert, and the Rapid Response Squad is tasked with overseeing government warehouses and shopping centers.
The proactive deployment is a precautionary step to prevent any violence in the state, even though an attack is not anticipated, according to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin.
NEMA’s South West Territorial Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, affirmed that they have received directives to reinforce security at all government installations in the region.
“All critical stakeholders are on standby for any attempt by anyone. Even though there isn’t a single food item in the warehouses, we are taking precautionary security measures to protect both human and other assets of the federal government from any unforeseen circumstance,” he said.