Lekki residents hail DPO for combating social vices, prostitution activities in Scheme 1

CITIZENS COMPASS–Lekki Residents Association (LERA), on Wednesday, applauded the Divisional Police Officee (DPO), of Maroko Police State in the Eti-Osa Local Council Government Area, Lagos State, for combating social vices and prostitution activities in the area particularly Lekki Scheme 1.

The residents through LERA Chairman, Yomi Idowu and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun, in a statement, said the efforts of the DPO has succeeded in combating women trafficking for prostitution, drug peddling and hooliganism in their estate.

They said the DPO’s efforts have achieved community awareness, and support services in the community.

According to the statement, LERA appreciates DPO, Maroko Police Station, for combating social vices in Lekki Scheme 1 especially the activities of the prostitutes. 

“The prevalent social vices in Lekki Scheme 1 are:

Trafficking of women for commercial sex: As we know, the Nigeria criminal system prohibits national and trans-national trafficking of women for commercial sex or forced labour.

“This is rampant in Lekki Scheme 1 as these traffickers rented apartments for their illegal business in our community who also engaged in other social vices such as drug peddling and house breaking and other illegal activities.

“In a month, the reports against the social vices are not less than 50. However, the DPO of Marko Police Station has been up and doing in combating this vice as these prostitutes almost turn Lekki Scheme 1 into Allen Avenue and Ojuelegba.

“DRUG PEDDLING: Drug peddling is another serious issue that is causing harmful effects in Lekki Scheme 1 . Drug peddlers contribute to the spread of illegal substances, addiction, crime, violence, and other social problems. They have an illegal drug trade market in Lekki Scheme 1, they engage in drug or  narcotic trafficking dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Thereby turning Lekki Scheme 1 into the den of thieves.

“Miscreants: The menace and nuisance caused by miscreants and destitute in Lekki Scheme 1 cannot be overemphasized. They engage in entry and stealing, threatening residents, car vandalism, loitering at Banks ATMS etc. Lekki Scheme 1 records not less than 100 car vandalism in a month.

Hence, to tackle these menaces, the Association collaborated with the relevant government agencies, and Rotary Club to create; 

Community Awareness: Educating the community about the negative impacts of prostitution and the importance of supporting individuals who may be vulnerable to exploitation.

“Support Services: Providing support services for miscreants who found their ways to Lagos for one reason or the other deemed Lekki Scheme 1 habitable but residents are out to reduce the influx by reaching out to them.

Some residents adopted some of them, put them in school, some of them were given vocational training, even the commissioner, identified some of the street boys, handed them over to a popular barbing salon operator in Lekki Scheme 1 through the Association to be trained in the business.

“However, some of them are die hard who are never ready to be reformed hence the involvement of the law enforcement operatives to combat human trafficking, drug peddling and the activities of these miscreants in Lekki Scheme through increased patrols, undercover operations, and collaboration with other agencies.

“The Association therefore calls on the Government to put in place  stronger laws and policies to address prostitution and human trafficking, in Lagos State and the country as a whole.”