Criminals Are Back In Lagos.
For a few months, Lagosians relaxed and night life seemed to be creeping back.
People had started sleeping with both eyes closed, relaxed in the knowledge that the police were on top of the situation, but not any more.
In the last few weeks, carjacking seems to have become the latest crime while stealing of vehicles from where they are parked has now become rampant. A few weeks ago it was reported that about 70 cars are stolen every month in Lagos, though an infinitesimal per centage of that is recovered, most of them never to be seen again.
Robbers seem to have become wiser in Lagos that only a few, and negligible few at that, are apprehended and arrested.
Most have perfected the art of robbing people of their vehicle and getting away.
We hear of a few kingpins who were caught but most are never really prosecuted, perhaps they are sacred cows, or they had strong godfathers who ordered their release, who knows?
We are not condemning the police, afterall, they can only do what they can with available weapons and logistics not really better than they were a few years back.
Even with the infrequent show of force by the police, the armed robbers and car thieves seem undeterred.
There is a need to do more on the part of the police. There is need for dedication on the part of officers and men of the police force.
It is not enough to parade armed robbers and other suspects before pressmen. There is a greater need to involve the community in which they operate. Members of most communities are ready to cooperate and work with the police in flushing out criminals and suspicious characters in their communities, if only the police would cooperate with them.
Vigilance groups need not take the laws into their own hands if they know the suspects handed over to the police would not escape or be released to come back and endanger the lives of residents that handed them over in the first place.
With the amount of money the Lagos State government and other corporate bodies have spent on the police in recent times, it is only fair to expect things to get better.
The way things are, the police in Lagos need more than a show of force. All police divisions need to be cleansed, with a stern warning to all DPOs to stem the rate of crime or be kicked out.
A situation where armed robbers snatch vehicles just a few metres to a police checkpoint is unacceptable.
A situation where policemen flee at the sight of armed robbers is unacceptable. A situation where criminals are released without proper prosecution is wrong.
Perhaps, this is why some Lagosians have refused to cooperate with the police. Many are afraid of being fingered as those who reported unusual movement or a suspicious neighbour.
We need to change our style of policing to curb criminal activities. Most communities know where the undesirables are but are apprehensive of pointing them out.
Policemen too cannot claim to be unaware of the hideouts of these undesirables, though most of them feign ignorance when such is reported.
The dream of making Lagos State a mega city may never be realised if the safety of lives and property cannot be guaranteed.
People had started sleeping with both eyes closed, relaxed in the knowledge that the police were on top of the situation, but not any more.
In the last few weeks, carjacking seems to have become the latest crime while stealing of vehicles from where they are parked has now become rampant. A few weeks ago it was reported that about 70 cars are stolen every month in Lagos, though an infinitesimal per centage of that is recovered, most of them never to be seen again.
Robbers seem to have become wiser in Lagos that only a few, and negligible few at that, are apprehended and arrested.
Most have perfected the art of robbing people of their vehicle and getting away.
We hear of a few kingpins who were caught but most are never really prosecuted, perhaps they are sacred cows, or they had strong godfathers who ordered their release, who knows?
We are not condemning the police, afterall, they can only do what they can with available weapons and logistics not really better than they were a few years back.
Even with the infrequent show of force by the police, the armed robbers and car thieves seem undeterred.
There is a need to do more on the part of the police. There is need for dedication on the part of officers and men of the police force.
It is not enough to parade armed robbers and other suspects before pressmen. There is a greater need to involve the community in which they operate. Members of most communities are ready to cooperate and work with the police in flushing out criminals and suspicious characters in their communities, if only the police would cooperate with them.
Vigilance groups need not take the laws into their own hands if they know the suspects handed over to the police would not escape or be released to come back and endanger the lives of residents that handed them over in the first place.
With the amount of money the Lagos State government and other corporate bodies have spent on the police in recent times, it is only fair to expect things to get better.
The way things are, the police in Lagos need more than a show of force. All police divisions need to be cleansed, with a stern warning to all DPOs to stem the rate of crime or be kicked out.
A situation where armed robbers snatch vehicles just a few metres to a police checkpoint is unacceptable.
A situation where policemen flee at the sight of armed robbers is unacceptable. A situation where criminals are released without proper prosecution is wrong.
Perhaps, this is why some Lagosians have refused to cooperate with the police. Many are afraid of being fingered as those who reported unusual movement or a suspicious neighbour.
We need to change our style of policing to curb criminal activities. Most communities know where the undesirables are but are apprehensive of pointing them out.
Policemen too cannot claim to be unaware of the hideouts of these undesirables, though most of them feign ignorance when such is reported.
The dream of making Lagos State a mega city may never be realised if the safety of lives and property cannot be guaranteed.
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