By Daniel Anokwuru
If there is any best way to describe Ilogbo Police Station, Area K, under Lagos State Police Command, it can be described as a pigsty. Anyone going close to the dilapidated building, where officers of the Nigeria Police Force discharge their lawful duties daily is believed to be going close death.
The heavy cracks on the walls and floors of the station located in a serene, well fenced and organised environment, where a Divisional Command should be situated, make one doubt if those in authority actually know that such station exists. The building looks like it would not last for another 24 hours.
But what would be the fate of those detained in the cell when such tragedy eventually happens? The situation is highly appalling and sickening.
Ilogbo Police Station looks more like an abandoned mechanic workshop, where all manner of unserviceable rickety vehicles are abandoned. From the looks of the abandoned vehicle, some may have stayed over ten years at the station.
One of the officers at the station, who does not want to be named, said that they hardly sit inside the station, for fear of the building collapsing on them. He said they have no choice and cannot refuse if they are posted at the station. According to him, refusal to resume will be a gross insubordination.
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“The building has been like this. Everyone is scared. We cannot comfortably sit inside because no one knows when it would collapse. Sitting inside means someone, risking his or her life. We normally carry our chairs to sit outside. And once you are posted here, you have no choice than to resume. If you fault the posting, you will be in a bigger problem, whereas you are protecting your life.
In fact, working here is more of a punishment. How can officers of the Nigerian Police Force be subjected to this working condition? To renovate this place would not cost much from the police budget. What if the building collapses when we have suspects detained in the cell? Those in authority should act fast because the calamity it would cause in future can be avoided now if urgent steps are taken. The quarters at the back is not spared either. There are dangers everywhere, both the presence of dangerous reptiles.”
Another senior officer at the station, who also preferred not to be named, for fear of being disciplined, noted that the first time he resumed at the station, he was surprised, seeing that officers would be allowed to serve under such harsh condition. He spoke with the reporter, while sipping his bottle of gin, in front of the station.
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He said, “Coming here daily is actually a risk. Anyone working here is serving between life and death. What we normally do is to carry our chairs and sit outside; sitting inside is a big risk. Just go round the building and judge for yourself if it is proper being here. Even the quarters at the back is in a sorry state.
Here is good to accommodate the Divisional Headquarters because of the large expanse of land and the atmosphere. But it has been abandoned by our Ogas. They want to ensure that all cases pass through them. They do not want those here to exercise any authority without them. Here is better location than the main Ilemba Hausa Station that is along Alaba International road, without any space, not even where to park a car.”
The Nigerian Xpress reporter sent a text message to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ilemba Hausa Station, Ajangbadi, Area K, Sp. Sommonu Abone Kazeem, who is directly in charge of the dilapidated structure, inquiring why the building is in such sorry state. He also wanted to know if the police authority is aware of the condition and whose responsibility it is to ensure urgent renovation of the building to avoid the impending doom.
In his response, he said that he would confirm from the old Staff to know the history of the building and to equally confirm other requests made by the reporter. But he is yet to provide more information as promised as at the time of filling this report.