Lagos Assembly To Summon RRS Boss Over Crime Upsurge

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, southwest Nigeria, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has announced that the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad, CSP Akeem Odumosu, may be summoned before the House over the upsurge in armed robbery incidents in the state.

The House also called on the State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, to direct the RRS Commander and his men to quickly begin work to reduce the crime rate in the state.

The Speaker, who could not understand why the crime rate in the state was growing in spite of the existence of a well-funded anti-crime outfit, made the disclosure on the floor of the House after the lawmaker representing Mainland Constituency 2 at the House, Moshood Oshun, raised an alarm over the activities of armed robbers in Yaba area of the state.

Oshun had, under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, informed his colleagues that robbers had taken over some parts of his constituency, the most recent incident happening very early on Monday.

He said both the police and the robbers sustained injuries in the cross-fire that ensued between them at Iwaya area of Yaba, adding that before then, the robbers had raided two streets where they killed one resident.

“I received a call around 3a.m. from Iwaya about a robbery incident and immediately, I called the Divisional Police Officer of Sabo Police Station and he directed his men to go to the place.

“When they got there, they still met the robbers operating and the police engaged them in a gun duel and in the process, two policemen were injured and the armed robbers escaped with some cars, other valuables and bullet wounds.”

He said when he visited the DPO he told him they could not do much because the robbers operated with more sophisticated weapons than the police officers had.

“I agree that Lagos State has gone even beyond the Federal Government in terms of equipping our security, but I still believe that a lot still needs to be done in terms of fighting crime in Lagos and this country,” Oshun added.

Contributing to the debate, the member representing Apapa Constituency 1 at the House, Mufutau Egberongbe, lamented that the impression the residents of the state now have is that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) was becoming docile. He said the zeal with which the Fund was earlier deployed had waned considerably.

He suggested that the House should look into the activities of LSSTF with a view to making it more effective.

Rotimi Olowo representing Shomolu Constituency 1 also lamented the concentration of the RRS at a particular area of Lagos, complaining that as a result, residents of other areas they hardly reach are left to their fate.

He suggested the decentralisation of RRS so that they would be present in every local government area of the state.

Ikuforiji, who surprised that officials of the RRS do not get to other areas of the state wondered what would happen to his people in the Epe area of the state if they should be attacked in the absence of the RRS.

He recalled that the State Assembly approved the provision of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) sometime ago to confront and fight crimes, but was quickly reminded that the APCs were not be enough.

According to Ikuforiji, “as far as I know, armed robbers have not started operating with APCs, so I don’t see any reason why the police will be complaining of lack of equipment despite the huge amount our government has expended on security.

“The governor should call a security meeting to know why the police are still complaining about not having sophisticated equipment.

“We will also invite the Commander of the RRS to the House to know about their activities so far. We should be able to know how they have been operating.”

—Eromosele Ebhomele