Nigeria: The Police And Armed Robbers

opinion

Lagos — The institution of police is instituted as troubleshooter. The police maintain law and order in the society. They do this by preventing crime, detecting crime, apprehending criminals and prosecuting them in the law court. To do this job, the Police receive proper training and are equipped with adequate tools necessary for effective performance of their duty. Then, the armed robber is the man or woman with illegal weapons such as gun, knives, axe and matchet with which he harasses, attacks, rapes, kills and dispossess people of their personal effects.

Long ago, a thief operated in fear of what might happen to him if caught, hence he ran away as a victim shouted or he noticed the presence of somebody in his area of operation. With time, the situation changed. These days, the thief is now in charge. He is now the master. When a thief comes, the victims are cowered, and shiver like lily, livered beings. This is because the robber is today well armed. In Nigeria today, no place is safe from the ravages of the armed robbers. They come to the homes to rob and rape. They maim and kill. They operate at the banks with dynamites. They strike at filling stations. They swoop on victims at traffic jams. In short, as far as this country is concerned, there are no safe havens. Even commuter commercial luxury buses are not spared. The buses are hijacked, taken to bush, and the passengers robbed, raped and the bus burnt. This pushes up the already bad HIV statistics in the country. This scenario is worst than a war situation. In a war situation, at least, one knows where his enemies are and avoids them. But in this case, you could be attacked right in your bed room or anywhere and at any time for that matter.

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