Kunle Adelabu
The Lagos Police Commissioner, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has read a riot act to the traders and transport unions in Ikorodu to stay clear of Ikorodu garage roundabout axis or face the wrath of the law.
Lagos Police Chief, who also said that 1, 250 trained Police Constables have been deployed to the 110 Divisions in the state to complement the efforts of the regular police officers, gave the warning during a security meeting in Ikorodu on Wednesday, January 27, 2021.
The Police Commissioner, who also said that his men will go out with full force against traffic robbers, warned the traders and unions to stay off the Ayangbure road, Ikorodu garage roundabout and Lagos road where their activities are causing traffic.
He said that the deployed Constables, who will not be in uniform, will be responsible for identifying and arresting traffic robbers and offenders.
“We are deploying more officers to Ikorodu Division, especially during the peak period and area that we are concentrating on is Ayangbure road and the roundabout (Ikorodu roundabout)”, CP Odumosu disclosed.
“I want the unions and the market women and men in that axis to take this as a warning. Fortunately, from the information available to me, the local government and traditional rulers and other stakeholders are not collecting money from them and if they are collecting, let us know.
“Those areas from today must remain free. This is compulsory and not negotiable”, he said while emphasizing his warning.
“I have had the opportunity and the grace of God to be the Chairman of the Task Force in this state and I equally had the grace to be the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in the state, now, God has given me another opportunity to be the Lagos Commissioner of Police, then why won’t I work?
“I was made the CP because of what I did as the Chairman of the Special Task Force and Commander of the RRS and it is a challenge which I need your support.
“We have to tackle the perennial problem at the garage axis together. So, the market women there should restrict themselves to the market and if that is not spacious enough for you, approach the appropriate authority which is the local government to give you a better and bigger place”.
He said that traders who are displaying their wares along the road are the ones causing human and vehicular traffic problems while he also added that the activities of the transport unions, regarding the collection of rates on the road, is also not helping the situation.
“If you don’t display your wares on the road, people will come to the market to locate you but once you come to the road, people too will come to you there and that will bring about traffic.
“Same thing applicable to the unions and you need to stop collecting your money on the road. I have discussed with both the NURTW and RTEAN Chairmen and I will come with full force if you decide not to obey the directive. So, go and call your men to order”.
He warned that any community leader, traditional ruler or politician that solicits for the release of any arrested offender will equally be detained and charged for obstruction of justice.
Odumosu, therefore, appealed to leaders to engage the traders and unionists in discussion and make them desist from flouting the law before he moves in with full force to enforce the directives.
“I am appealing to the community leaders, traditional rulers, the political leaders and government officials, please, don’t call me to release anybody arrested for flouting the directive and if you do, I will do the worse by luring you to come and collect the person and detain you”, he said.
“I will charge you for aiding and abetting and for obstructing my lawful duty and for hiding a criminal. If I arrest any criminal and you come to plead for his or her release, you will be detained and charged for the same offence with the criminal”, he added.
“All that I need now is for you to talk to them now and let them change before we come. If they fail to change and we come in, don’t say that you know me because I will not know you.
“Iya Olojas should talk to their people, landlords should talk to their tenants and unions should call their people to order. Once they refuse to listen to you, I have the power and the capacity to take action”, the Police CP warned.
