By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
The authority of the Lagos State Police Command has been commended over the increased surveillance and presence of its operatives on the Third Mainland, Eko and Apongbon bridges which has resulted in the reduction of traffic robberies to the minimum on the roads.
A concerned stakeholder cum human rights activist comrade Nelson Ekujumi gave the commendation in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.
He however remarked that more work needed be done in order areas of the state where reported cases where traffic crime is rampant.
Ekujumi identified the areas to include some roads and specific points like Mile 2 axis, ile-epo, Katanguwa axis of the Lagos Abeokuta expressway among others.
The activist urged that more work still needs to be done to ensure that Lagosians drive and commute without fear of attacks and robberies on the roads.
The statement reads, ” Following the spike in traffic related crime in Lagos and the public outcry generated of late, one can comfortably report that we have observed increased police surveillance and presence on the third Mainland bridge as well as Eko bridge, Apongbon bridge, etc to mention but a few.
Recall that due to traffic gridlocks in the metropolis occasioned by so many factors including the indiscipline of motorists, Lagosians became the object of attacks and robberies by criminals on the roads. These attacks were very common during the rush hours of the mornings and evenings when people are returning home from work and businesses.
It’s an established fact that for the police to live up to it’s primary function of maintenance of law and order, requires men and materials with adequate motivation for appropriate deployment to black spots and general surveillance for a safe and habitable society.
Thus, in the last couple of weeks, one has noticed visible presence of policemen during the early morning rush hours and evenings in the aforementioned roads, complementing stationed RRS officers and vehicles, which is very commendable, as it has reduced to the bearest minimum the incidents of traffic robberies on these roads.
But reports monitored, indicate that traffic crime is still rampant on some roads and specific points like Mile 2 axis, ile-epo, Katanguwa axis of the Lagos Abeokuta expressway among others.
Consequently, as one would like to commend the Lagos State police command for the successes recorded so far, we must also urge that more work still needs to be done to ensure that Lagosians drive and commute without fear of attacks and robberies on the roads.
In the discharge of this critical raison de’tre which is the primary essence of government, one would like to admonish the Lagos State police command to interface on it’s challenges and needs with the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu led administration which has proven it’s absolute commitment to the welfare and security of the good people of Lagos with the recent commendable donation of security equipments, vehicles, gadgets, etc to all the security agencies in the state among other numerous people oriented programmes and projects.
As we look forward to the end of the year festivities, it is hoped and demanded of the Lagos State police command, that there is still more work to be done in securing life and property of Lagosians, not only on the roads, but also in their homes and places of work/business”.
