Handing Over Ceremony Of Renovated Ikeja Police Dog Section By RCCG To The Police - By Tony Okpe

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 47 on Monday handed over a renovated K9 Unit of the Force Animal Branch in Ikeja to the police.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Finance and Administration, DCP Oqua Etim commended the RCCG province 47 adding that the intervention will help boost crime prevention in the state.

"Police Canine section was established in 1963 at Obalende, Lagos with 6 dogs and 6 handlers. The function of K9 section is to prevent and detect crime through the use of dogs. Police dogs are used for crowd control, perimeter surveillance and condoning.

"Sniffer dogs help in detecting illicit drugs e.g cocaine, heroin, hemps, explosives, arms and concealed corpse. They equally help in tracking suspects, search and rescue operations, searching for weapons and recovery of loss or stolen property.

"Dogs are used for apprehension of offenders resisting arrest or attempting to evade service. Police dogs can perform the function of 10 armed officers. K9 section, Lagos State Command covers every part of Lagos.

"Join me in thanking the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lagos Province 47 for renovating the kernel and dilapidated K9 building, donating a borehole and training facilities for the dogs.

"The church also brought a 5KVA generator. These incentives are to facilitate the optimal utilisation of the police dogs in crime prevention, detection and apprehension of criminals.

The use of the newly purchased training facilities will boost the performance of the trained dogs to help achieve the above mentioned goals which will in turn lower crime rate in Lagos State." he said

The Commissioner of Police, Animal Branch, CP Aishatu Abubakar PhD commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Province 47 for the gesture, adding that it wouldn't have come at a better time.

"The Force Animal Branch is indeed grateful to the leadership of the Redeemed Christian Church of God especially Province 47 pastorate for finding our facility worthy of intervention by its Christian Social Responsibility program.

"Similarly, may I call on other well meaning Nigerians to also emulate this kind gesture exhibited by the Redeemed Christian Church of God. By doing so, you will definitely be contributing immensely to the safety of our dear country.

"In the same vein, permit me at this junction to bring to you the special commendations of the Inspector General of Police and his management team. It is his directives that I reassure you of his commitment in not only ensuring a crime free Lagos but Nigeria at Large.

"Let me also at this junction particularly admonish my staff here in Lagos to see this kind of intervention as a call to serve." she said.

Pastor Idowu Oluwamade from RCCG added that it is part of the Christian Social Responsibility program to contribute towards the development of the society.

Oluwamade added he hoped the gesture would boost the morale of officers at the K9 section to give their best while they discharge their duties.