A seemingly ordinary incident in Festac, Lagos, reportedly turned into a frightening attack early this year when a woman was allegedly assaulted by more than 20 hoodlums following a minor road accident.
The woman was beside her SUV when a commercial motorcycle rider reportedly crashed into her vehicle. Before she could react, other riders and street youths allegedly surrounded her, blaming her for the incident.
Some reportedly banged on the vehicle and attacked her with dangerous objects in broad daylight, while a crowd watched without immediate intervention.
The attack reportedly ended only after a passerby ran to a nearby police station for help. Policemen eventually arrived, forcing the attackers to flee.
The incident raises questions about how effectively Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is being policed.
A city under pressure
Lagos is one of Africa’s largest metropolitan areas and attracts millions of residents, commuters, investors and visitors. It is also home to major seaports, airports, financial institutions, multinational companies and critical infrastructure.
While the state has largely remained outside the epicentre of terrorism and widespread banditry affecting parts of northern Nigeria, its rapid population growth, urbanisation, inequality, traffic congestion and organised crime create a complex security environment.
The threats range from armed robbery and “one-chance” attacks to cult violence, street gangs, car theft, burglary, cybercrime, financial fraud, land disputes and illegal land grabbing.
The manpower challenge
The Lagos State Police Command says it currently has 15,597 personnel, excluding officers attached to the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.
The command operates more than 200 active pindown points across its 14 Area Commands. The points are located around crime-prone areas, major roads and other vulnerable locations to improve police visibility, deter crime and enhance response.
But police visibility alone cannot guarantee public safety.
Residents have raised concerns about areas where criminal activity allegedly persists despite being known to security agencies.
One example is an enclave around the Apple Junction axis of Amuwo-Odofin, close to the road leading towards Ago Palace Way, where some residents allege that criminal elements operate. Such allegations require independent investigation and should not be interpreted as evidence against residents or commercial motorcycle operators in the area.
There have also been longstanding concerns about crime and street violence in parts of Alakara in Mushin, Ipodo in Ikeja, Obalende and Agege.
For the police, the challenge is not simply identifying hotspots but sustaining operations capable of preventing criminal groups from establishing territorial control.
Technology and intelligence
Security experts argue that Lagos needs to move beyond conventional policing.
CCTV cameras, digital crime databases, forensic tools, drones, improved communications and integrated command-and-control systems could help security agencies detect threats, analyse intelligence and respond more quickly.
Security analyst Dr Timi Ajayi said criminals often study their environment, identify vulnerabilities and monitor movement patterns before striking.
“You can have one million police officers, but if they cannot reach the scene quickly because of traffic or other operational constraints, numbers alone will not solve the problem,” he said.
Ajayi called for greater investment in CCTV coverage, drones and integrated monitoring systems, as well as stronger enforcement of existing requirements for CCTV installation in designated buildings.
Securing the waterways
Lagos’ extensive waterways also require greater security attention.
Joe Inegbenijie, Senior Partner at Davijey Integrated Services Ltd., said the waterways could provide entry and exit routes for criminal elements.
He called for stronger marine policing and improved security around schools, markets, transport terminals and places of worship.
Inegbenijie also advocated intelligence-gathering and analysis centres across the state’s senatorial districts and a stronger role for the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps in collecting community intelligence.
Defence and counter-terrorism specialist Dr Hashim Saludeen similarly argued that policing Lagos should be measured not only by the number of officers deployed, but by capability, intelligence, technology, coordination and response time.
What the police are doing
The Lagos State Police Command says it has adopted a proactive, multi-dimensional strategy involving intelligence gathering, targeted operations, patrols, raids, community engagement and inter-agency cooperation.
According to CSP Adebisi Abimbola, the command continues to conduct targeted operations under Operation Kò S’áyé, particularly in areas vulnerable to kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other serious crimes.
The command also says it is strengthening police visibility, school protection, youth engagement, collaboration with local vigilante groups and joint task forces, alongside foot and vehicular patrols.
In 2026, the command introduced the Command Sweepers Squad to improve rapid response and police visibility in crime-prone areas, including Ikorodu.
But Abimbola acknowledged the fundamental challenge: “The reality is that 15,597 personnel cannot be everywhere at the same time in a megacity like Lagos.”
Beyond police numbers
Security in Lagos cannot rest solely on the police.
The state government, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, other security agencies, private security operators, businesses and community organisations all have roles to play.
Inegbenijie said Lagos had made progress but needed a security system capable of keeping pace with its population growth.
“The best form of security is prevention and protection, not merely crime fighting,” he said.
Increasing police numbers, improving officers’ welfare and providing operational equipment remain important. But manpower alone will not secure a megacity.
Lagos needs intelligence-led policing, modern surveillance, rapid emergency response, stronger marine security, effective community partnerships and tighter accountability.
The Festac incident illustrates how quickly an ordinary situation can become dangerous when intervention is delayed.
The challenge, therefore, is not simply to have more police officers, but to build a security architecture capable of identifying threats early, responding quickly and preventing criminal groups from turning communities into territories beyond the reach of law enforcement.
In the longer term, the creation of state police could provide additional capacity to confront crime in Nigeria’s sprawling commercial capital.