Sleep with your eyes closed, ‘One Million Boys’ neutralised- Commissioner of Police tells Lagos residents

By Tunde Olorungbotemi


Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has asked residents of the state to henceforth sleep with their eyes closed as the command has since neutralised the much talked about criminal gang, ''One Million Boys''.

There have been tension in the state following reports of threat letters purportedly written to some communities by the faceless criminal group. The group allegedly threatened that it would carry out armed robbery attacks in some listed neighbourhoods.



Odumosu, who led squadrons of anti-robbery policemen to various tension-soaked communities, allayed residents’ fear, saying the criminal gang called “One Million Boys” had been disbanded in several operations.



The police boss said a new set of criminally minded people may be hiding under the gang’s name to scare the public, but he assured all that the police, in conjunction with other security agencies, would neutralise such threat.



“Today, we have come out in full show of force to give you assurance that there’s nothing like ‘One Million Boys’; they are criminals. Be assured that Government is out to protect you. The police are out there to guarantee your safety and we are doing this in conjunction with soldiers, Navy, Air Force and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

“So, we are asking you not to panic. Go about your lawful engagements. When it is time for you to sleep, you should sleep without nurturing the fear that some faceless criminal gangs will come and attack you. Faceless people are sending letters around only to put fears in your mind. We will respond swiftly to any attack and we shall be patrolling round the State.” he said



Odumosu gave out emergency numbers to call in case of armed robbery attacks and cautioned residents not to burn tyres on roads because such acts damage and pose health risks to children and the sick.



The numbers are: 09010512385, 09010512286, 09010512287 and 09010512288.



The police chief said the security agencies had been carrying out land and aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of residents during the lockdown imposed by the Federal Government to tackle the Coronavirus (COVID-19).



Some of the areas visited by Odumosu and his team of combat-ready policemen include Ikotun, Pako-Ijesha, Igando, Mushin, Surulere, Festac Town, Idimu, Ikeja, Ojodu, Berger, Ogba, Fadeyi, and Onipanu among others.