By Linus Akomolafe
Within the last six months, the operation of traffic robbers has increased resident’s worry over the security in Lagos State. Millions of naira, items and valuables have been lost to robbers.
Robbers who operate on motorcycles or on foot wait for traffic or broken down vehicles, and attack motorists with guns, breaking screens to gain access and forcefully removing valuables.
Victims recounted that in some cases, Police or Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers watch helpless while the operations last without resistance.
John Ewetunde explained that on August 2 at 9:30pm in Ikate Area of Lagos, traffic robbers stopped him at gun point and took over his steering, drove him to an ATM at Ikate and withdrew the sum of twenty thousand naira from his account leaving him stranded.
Recently, armed men attacked a bus on Marina Bridge, around 4.40 pm, evacuated everyone on the bus, collected phones, laptops, wallets, got on their bikes and zoomed off.
According to a motorist, Abiodun: “Everybody was just looking at them from the start to finish of their very smooth and unhindered operation. Even policemen down the bridge were just busy collecting money from Orile buses. Imagine you being robbed and you can’t even shout ‘Ole.’”
Within the last two weeks, there have been over 50 traffic robberies, 30 pickpocketing incidents in Lagos There were some arrests made with two police officers shot while attempting to foil an attack.
With the failed attempts by Lagos Police command to curb incessant robbery in the state, residents who recount robbery experience stated that millions have been lost to pickpocket and traffic robbers.
Traders at Obafemi Awolowo Way who spoke to IkejaBird said for every 10 minutes, passerbys are likely to lose belongings.
Emeka said: ” We have been trading here for a long time now and whenever we stand at our safe top floor, within the next ten minutes those bad boys would come and steal from people and we can’t shout. They will hijack phones or bag and mix with the crowd. But if the owner is vigilant and shout, they will leave it and give it back to her. They are always in groups.”
Another trader explained that police officers at the roundabout would look away from the scene and focus on directing traffic.
“In Ikeja here we are helpless and there is no how this bad boys will stop when the police are not even concerned. For the bad boys, it is a job for them. They wake and come like everyone.”
In Apapa, on August 27, James was robbed of N2m at gun point at Mechanic village beside Mobil station, close to warehouse road, Apapa after leaving the Bank.
Meanwhile, two policers were shot on 23 of August along Oshodi/Apapa Expressway while one died on the spot.
According to security guards in the area, the officers were shot at about 1am in an attempt to stop an attack at Five Star bus stop, one officer died while other men attached to the patrol ran into a nearby company for safety.
The Police Commissioner, Odumosu reinterated that the command is working to rid Lagos of criminals and hoodlums.
In statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Command carried out a raid on notorious blackspots and arrested about 28 alleged criminals. They were said to regularly attack residents of Canal Axis in Ago-Ogota area.
Assuring residents of safety, Odumosu vowed to sustain the ongoing raid until the State is completely rid of such undesirable elements while reiterating his commitment to halt activities of motorcycle operators in the State.
He stated that men of the force are also carrying out raids on motorcycle operators because some Okada riders use it in robbery operations.
