Daily Independent (Lagos)
20 December 2008
interview
As Christmas and New Year holidays draw near, many Nigerians are apprehensive with regard to safety of lives and property, borne out of fear for the high level of robbery and other criminal activities during this period.
In this interview with John Bamidele, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Lagos State, Frank Mba assured residents of the state that the Command is alive to its responsibility of maintaining the peace.
As the holiday period is getting closer, what plans has the Lagos Police Command put in place for safety of lives and property?
The Command is not unaware of the holiday and the concerns of those residing in Lagos, particularly in regard to the end of year activities, because both economic and social activities are always on the high side during this period. The Command has mapped out strategies to maintain the peace, in order to provide enabling environment for the people to enjoy their holidays. Aside this, we have put in place strategies that will enhance free flow and movement of vehicles and persons, and also to ensure that there is reduction in road accidents and carnage usually associated with the Christmas period.
Can you give us insight into some of your strategies?
One of our plans is what we call optimum utilisation of manpower and other resources. In achieving this set objective, the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Marvel Akpoyibo has placed a temporary embargo on annual leave. The idea is that while others are going on holidays, officers of the Lagos State Police Command are on duty to ensure that those who are on holiday enjoy themselves to the fullest. The Commissioner said that annual leave within this period could only be granted on exceptional cases or on compassionate ground. Another strategy is to de-emphasise office work in favour of fieldwork. In this regard, the Command has right sized the office personnel and has directed them to the field. The third is operational, and this is aimed at preventing, detecting and combating crimes within the yuletide period. Here, what we want to do is what we call, high Police visibility. The whole purpose is to ensure maximum presence of police in all nooks and crannies of the state.
High police visibility in what form?
You cannot but agree with me that the presence of police will reduce crime rate. By this strategy, all recognised black spots would be massively policed. Another strategy, which is close to it, is that of paying special attention to areas that will attract business and high level of human movement. By doing that we shall pay attention to banks, motor parks, particularly interstate parks like Oshodi, Jibowu, Yaba, Iddo, Amuwo Odofin, Ijora, Ketu-Ojota and Mile 12. These areas are known for not only intra state but also interstate motor parks. We shall mount massive surveillance and police presence. Business areas that will record high business transactions like Balogun, Tejuosho (though under construction), The Palms Shopping Mall, Mega Plaza, Alaba International Market and Trade Fair Complex will record high police presence at this time.
Do you have enough officers to carry out this operation?
The Lagos State Police Command has enough officers and men for the task ahead. Let me state also that it is not all about numbers. It is about commitment to duty, leadership and availability of logistics. Right now, we have highly motivated 27,000 officers and men in Lagos and the level of logistics at the state Command is far better. The regimes of Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola are far better, coupled with the able leadership of the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, we have seen the Command improving tremendously consistently.
What about the banks that have been the target of armed robbers for sometime now?
We shall pay special attention to banks. In this regard, we have improved and increased our level of security around Lagos State. The incidence that happened last week Friday where we successfully foiled an attempt by a group of miscreants, who attempted to rob a Zenith Bank at Ikota, is a pointer to the effectiveness of our strategies and upbeat commitment for the season. This is due to the special attention we have paid to the banks. Our major challenge for some time now has been that of a group specialised in robbing banks customers with Okada, but we are already smashing all their methodologies. They wait for customers and after they finish with their withdrawal, they snatch their money. To curb this, we have posted our men to all the banks as undercover agents and the strategy is working. Here, they pay special attention to people coming into the banks, mostly those who come with Okada. We have also advised the banks not to allow Okada riders too close to their offices.
The use of firecrackers popularly known as bangers is usually very high during the yuletide period, what are you doing to curb the menace?
That is an area that is giving the Command a lot of concern. We do not want to stop the fun of people who want to enjoy their holiday. Be that as it may, the use of bangers and firecrackers is really disturbing because, some of them sound like guns which is confusing and also a distraction. At times, as law enforcement agents, we rush to areas where we hear such sounds thinking armed robbers are operating only for us to get to the scene and discover that it is just a banger. We also get phone calls only to get there and discover it is firecrackers. It could also create distractions and a veritable cover for armed robbers. We frown at the indiscriminate use of crackers and therefore appeal to parents to refrain from buying them for their kids. What we want to do is to first and foremost appeal to people and if that fails, we shall arrest and prosecute erring members of the public. We will also check vehicles coming into Lagos State to intercept those bringing it into the state. We believe if we disrupt the distribution channel, we will succeed in disrupting the flow.
Is there any law prohibiting the sale and use of firecrackers by ordinary people?
We can always bring charges. Although, it is not really specified under the criminal code, but offenders can be prosecuted under breach of public peace. Although we have not made any arrests, we want to first and foremost appeal before resorting to arrest and prosecution particularly when majority are children and juveniles.
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