RECENT media reports affirmed that the Lagos Police Command confiscated over 70 commercial motorcycles across the state. The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit chaired by Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), also reportedly arrested some suspects in the Oshodi area of the state for extorting motorists. The arrested persons were said to have extorted as high as twenty-five thousand naira, N25, 000, from a victim. These are just few reported laudable feats credited to the police command, ably led by Hakeem Olusegun Odumosu. Lagos, looking at available data, is considered as the commercial hub of Nigeria and West Africa at large. It is therefore not in doubt that she deserves special and best security arrangement. It equally deserves a police command that must consistently deliver excellent results. The state further deserves a police command that must not leave any space for errant commercial motorcyclists and motorists to turn such a city into a jungle. Regrettably, in recent times, the citizens have been witnessing chaotic and very disturbing signals from the police in Lagos State. Reported clashes between police and commercial motor-cycle riders, popularly called Okada, at Second Rainbow along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway left several persons injured. Some days later, the same ugly scenario reportedly played out along Agege Motor Road.
Consequently, ordinary citizens are left to bear the brunt. During a recent clash between commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada, at Itire area, Afeez Hanafi, cited in punchng.com, stated: “One person yet-to-be-identified was reportedly shot dead while another was injured.” In May, this year, media reports also indicate that panic and fatalities were recorded at Ogba area of the state during a violent clash between the police and riders over shooting of a commercial motorcyclist. It equally stands that arrest; instant trials and collection of even heavy fines from presumed traffic offenders by the police are not strange sights in Lagos. Several media reports showed that the deplorable part of the road, connecting the popular Aswani Market to Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, respectively, has turned into a mobile fine-collection point for some police officers. In places like Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, the collectors are said to be individuals posing as a taskforce.
It is further widely known that Lagosians have been experiencing excruciating traffic gridlock. In fact, several proposed solutions appeared to be ineffective. Available reports however indicate that the ugly situation is mostly aggravated by some police officers, preferring one-way driving. Chijioke Iremeka notes (on www.telegraphng.com): “Ironically, the officers of the law, who are meant to enforce compliance to traffic laws and orders, are the ones neck-deep in underarm practices, thereby leading to deaths by Nigerians.” Olusegun Ogungbemide, Lagos State Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander, reportedly recounted another ugly encounter with one-way driving policemen who escorted a VIP along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The FRSC boss stresses, “The FRSC team approached the police operatives, insisting that the vehicles turn back and follow their rightful lanes but the drivers and escort refused to obey their plea rather, one of the policemen pointed his riffle at our men and threatened to shoot them.”
From the foregoing, the Odumosu-led Lagos Police Command seems to be raising more hard-to-answer-questions. Who, between the police command and errant commercial motorcyclists as well as motorists, actually constitutes a major nuisance in Lagos? How can policemen, preferring one-way driving, morally justify the arrest of those plying unconventional routes in Lagos? Will the police, under Odumosu, attract appreciable public goodwill when some of her operatives are operating and clearly enriching themselves through un-established routes? Meanwhile, Odumosu, while announcing the confiscation of the commercial motorcycles, reportedly affirmed that his steps were aimed at restoring sanity and safety to the state. He also declared that the raids will continue as long as some of the riders consistently flout established rules. It is however certain that Odumosu will not be satisfied heading a police command whose activities would be fueling public mistrust.
It is certain that he will not like to witness the resurrection of activities that fuelled the rested #EndSARS and other protests in Lagos and other parts of the country. He and his men, therefore, must consistently engage and effectively educate Lagosians about what constitutes traffic rights and abuses. He and his men must embrace public engagement strategies that deliver win-win results. Media monitoring should equally be topmost priority, considering the high volume of conversations and prevalence of fake news across platforms. Odumosu and his men can join in the conversations and respond swiftly to even unexpected developments.
- Odiaka, a media practitioner, writes in from Lagos
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