Lagos Police To Clampdown On Illegal Siren Users

Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Lagos State Police Command says it is beginning full scale clampdown on illegal users of siren in the state.

The major culprits are police officers and some individuals who try to beat traffic in the bustling city.

Police Commissioner, Umar Manko disclosed this on Wednesday after the State Security Council meeting in Marina, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

Manko, who reiterated that it is against the laws of Lagos State to use siren, warned that henceforth any unauthorised person using siren in any part of the state would be arrested and prosecuted.

“Council has resolved that people not entitled to use siren should not use them because if they do, the law will be applied as it is. The use of siren by unauthorised people is against the traffic laws of Lagos State,” he said.

The Police Commissioner also warned against the blocking of roads in Lagos by protesters, saying although citizens have the right to carry out peaceful protests in the state, they do not have the right to block roads and make other road users uncomfortable.

Manko noted that blocking of roads by protesters was viewed seriously at the Security Council meeting, saying that the Council found it obnoxious that people undertaking a protest march probably to agitate for their rights would block roads thereby denying others the right to use the roads.

“The issue of blocking roads by protesters was considered very seriously at the Council meeting and we agreed that while people have the right to demonstrate, provided it is peaceful, they do not have the right to block roads and make other road users uncomfortable,” Manko said.

He also said it was resolved at the meeting that while people are allowed to go on demonstration peacefully, “they should not block roads because that is not part of peaceful demonstration,” adding “that is not going to be tolerated by the security agencies.”