Police, robbery gangs devise methods of operations

By Saka Gbeminiyi

As men of the Nigeria police are making operations difficult for the armed robbery gangs on land in Lagos, the robbers have devised means whereby they now launch their attacks through the Lagos lagoon.

In recent times, there has been increase in number of armed robbery attacks by bandits operating from the lagoon. And the major victims of such attacks are people in plum areas like Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island. For instance, embassy staff residing in such plum areas have fallen victims of such attacks.

Sunday Tribune gathered from the police that many of the residents have lost valuable property like laptops, handset, jewelry and cash to those bandits.

“We are aware that armed bandits now launch their attacks through the lagoon. and we will expel them from the state. The marine unit of the police will be equipped for that assignment.

Sunday Tribune learnt that armed robbers usually storm the coastal area on speed boats. And after attacking, they usually escape through the lagoon which has been making it difficult to arrest them.

The mode of operation of the bandit, Sunday Tribune learnt was that they always strike between 7.30 to 10.30pm when people are returning home from work.

“They use ‘escort’ system. They follow people and as the gateman is opening gate, they too enter and hold residents to ransom. They collect valuables like cash, handsets, laptosp from them before escaping. As a rule, they don’t shoot gun so as not to alert security people around”, source within the police told Sunday Tribune.

 

Fashola urged to streamline Okada operation

By Saka Gbeminiyi

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Babatunde Fashola has been called upon to streamline the operations of Okada riders in the state as a way of curbing the menace of armed robbery.

The advice was given by a security expert, Engineer Lanre Hammed. He said almost 60 percent of armed robbery cases and other related criminality were being perpetrated by those riding motor cycle.

He advised that the state government should register all commercial motorcyclists operating in Lagos and they should be issued identity cards, so that they will be easily to identified.

Besides, he advised that they should be compelled to wear jackets with their identity card number boldly inscribed on the jackets. This approach if implemented, he said would make it easy for people to trace them in event of any unwanted situation.

Engineer Hammed lamented the present situation where every jack and Harry takes to Okada as a means of survival. This situation does not allow for proper identification, as passengers cannot distinguish a genuine Okada rider from those are using Okada to commit crime.

“If there are proper means of identification, passengers should be educated on what they should look for before engaging any Okada rider. In fact any commercial motorcyclist who does not have any means of identification should not be patronised”.

He regretted that the financial and logistics which the state government is giving to the Police will come to taught of urgent steps are not taking to address the problems of Okada riders in Lagos State. The state government last October launched the N2.5 billion state security trust fund. The state security outfit, Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was equipped with 200 Hilux Patrol Jeeps, 300 Bullet Proofs Vest, 20 High Powered Patrol Motor Bikes, 100 Elements and pair of boots each for the 1,500 RRS men.

Apart from that, the state government provided all RRS members with comprehensive insurance cover, duty allowance. The special allowance .. to members were also renewed upward, until recently a corporal and sergeant working in RRS team gets N10,000 as special allowance, but it is now N20,000 inspectors, now earn N25,000 instead of the former N11,000. While Superin-tendent of Police (SP) in RRS team takes home N30,000 as special allowance against the previous N12,000.

Sunday Tribune learnt that the state government approved the generous allowances based on the risky nature of the assignments of the RRS men.

However, despite this gesture, crimes still thrive in Lagos. There is hardly a day when residents of Lagos don’t experience violent crimes. There has been upward increase on cases of armed robbery and assassination carried out by pervious using motorcycles. The use of motorcycles makes their operations very easy and make the process of their arrest very difficult if not impossible. The situation forced the state government last year to place a ban on the activities of Okada riders from 7.00 pm. But the ban was later released due to public outcry.