Stop Using Brute Force To Enforce Traffic Law

editorial

The unjustifiable shooting of a commercial motorcyclist, known in local parlance as okada riders, Adigun Atilola, yesterday by police officers attached to the Ilupeju Police Station, in Lagos, has added to the seeming unending cases of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in the country.

Eyewitnesses at the scene of the incident recounted how a police team futilely chased the victim to effect his arrest for flouting the traffic law. After their unsuccessful effort to stop him, a trigger-happy member of the team reportedly pointed his gun at the okada rider and shot him. The policemen quickly fled the scene, leaving their victim in pains and bleeding profusely.

A conscienceless police force, through its spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, was later to brazenly lie to reporters who sought her reaction that the victim was responding to treatment, when it was obvious that they had not visited him at the hospital. More over, the incident occurred just 24 hours after the Lagos State House of Assembly condemned the impunity and brute force the police have adopted in enforcing the traffic law on motorcyclists.

Assemblyman, Mudashiru Obasa, who brought the matter to the notice of his colleagues under matters of urgent public importance, narrated how a policeman in Agege area of the state manhandled a motorcyclist for purportedly driving on an unauthorised route.

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Contributors to the debate also lamented the over-zealousness and excessive use of force by the police, while the Speaker, Ikuforiji Adeyemi directed the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko to call his men to order. Everywhere in the state, including Akoka, Agege, Surulere, Odi-Olowo, there are similar cases, which smack of bestiality by the police.

Chairman, Lagos State Task Force for Special Offences, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Bayo Sulaiman, was quoted to have said that they will not relent in their efforts to sanitise the roads. While we admit that it is the responsibility of the police to enforce laws, we hasten to advise the police to do so within the ambit of law and civility. They cannot be killing the citizens while enforcing the law enacted to ensure orderliness on our roads.

While the Traffic Law has listed 475 roads motorcyclists cannot ply, policemen have chosen to pursue a total ban and often harassed motorcyclists even on authorised routes. Undoubtedly, the police themselves cannot differentiate between the restricted and non-restricted routes. Their insensitivity has tainted the traffic law with odium.

On the other hand, the motorcyclists are sometimes the architect of their own misfortunes. They must realise that nobody is above the law of the land. It is irresponsible for anyone to wilfully flout the law. We welcome the traffic law, but advise the police to stop the excessive use of force against okada riders.

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