Time To Be Vigilant

As the yuletide approaches, there appears to be an increase in untoward happenings in the environment that it demands vigilance from all. This is not unexpected considering the fact that this period is associated with merriment and entertainment. There is this unbriddled crave for money at all costs to satisfy the yearnings of the period. In other words, people are ready to do anything to get money in order to celebrate the festivities.

Instances of these unwholesome happenings include kidnapping, robbery attacks and fraud-related dealings.

Right now, reports abound of children, even older persons, being kidnapped by devilish fellows with evil intentions. Criminal tendencies seem to have taken control of the soul of men as they now act with impunity in fleecing their partners and the unwary.

Just yesterday, a 10-year old girl was going home from school when he was abducted by two men on a motorcycle at Obele Oniwala in Surulere, Lagos. But for her crying, she would have been taken to an unknown destination for God knows what. Her shouting attracted passersby who pursued the motorcyclists and arrested them.

Narrating her ordeal, the little girl explained that she was snatched by the two men she did not know and that she did not know where they were taking her to. The men were promptly handed over to the police.

In Port Harcourt, a businesswoman dealing in recharge cards was yesterday gunned down along with another woman and a police corporal by men in a Volkswagen Jetta car after noticing that she was carrying a huge amount of money in her handbag.

On 16 November, Adedeji Onafuye, 31, was going home after closing from work when he was gunned down by yet-to-be identified gunmen. While the police claimed he was killed by armed robbers, his family disagreed and blamed the police for his death.

Apart from these instances, several bizzare happenings are being reported daily as we approach the Christmas and New Year celebrations. These happenings call for concern.

Government should as a matter of urgency spread its security magnet wide to contain these developments. There can be no better time than now for the law enfocement agents to be proactive to stop criminals in their tracks before carrying out their dastardly activities.

By this, we are suggesting preemptive raids of all identified black spots in the state. There should be a visible presence of the law enforcement agents this time around to ward off criminal activities of the desperados in the society.

We also suggest that security agents, backed up with the necessary logistics, be stationed at strategic areas of the state to respond to any emergency situation. Policemen should be deployed to markets and fun spots around the state to check the activities of hoodlums. For these security measures to be effective, residents need to cooperate with the law enforcement agents. They can do this by reporting suspicious movements to them for action to be taken.

Residents also need to be vigilant in their areas and avoid movements at odd hours of the day to avoid falling prey to men with evil intentions.

We also want to advise businessmen and women to stop the practice of carrying about large amount of money to buy goods. New banking technology has made it easy for them to use credit card or inter bank transfer for them to pay for whatever goods they want to buy.

This period calls for vigilance on the part of everybody to minimise fraudulent and bizzare happenings.