The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed that the security details attached to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, were withdrawn for audit purposes.  

The Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, at a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday, however, stated that Mrs Meranda’s four security personnel, who were earlier withdrawn, have been restored.  

According to the commissioner, the withdrawal of security details attached to the speaker and other VIPs in the state was part of an ongoing audit of police personnel and firearms.  

Mr Jimoh said, “There is an ongoing Police Personnel Audit of our personnel attached to eminent personalities, individuals, and groups, and their legal status.  

“This is a statutory laid-down procedure, which is not limited to Lagos State. The same practice is going on in various commands across the country without any issues. This is to ensure that the police personnel are accounted for, including their firearms and other crime-fighting equipment in their possession.  

“We are doing this to ensure that they are at their duty posts and that their firearms and equipment under their custody are not misused.”

Stating that the police have remained neutral regarding the leadership crisis in the state assembly, the police commissioner also said the force has refrained from getting involved in politics and urged the public not to drag them into political matters.  

The restoration of her security details followed an alarm raised earlier in the day by the speaker’s special adviser on Information, Victor Ganzallo, who disclosed that police officers and operatives of the State Security Service attached to her were withdrawn, putting her life at risk.