By Esther Onyegbula
THE Lagos State police commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, has warned officers and men of the command against harassment of members of the public and mounting of roadblocks.

Aderanti who urged his men to device all means to earn public trust warned his men to change their ways or shown the way out of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Police boss spoke during his working visit to the Area A Police command, Lion Building, Lagos Island. He was hosted by the Area Commander, Mr. Imohinmi Edgal, Assistant Commissioner of police.

Aderanti said, “There is a wall between us and members of the public. I want us to pull down this wall. There is a communication gap between us and the people we are supposed to be serving. You were recruited into the police to protect lives and property; we should be able to work in harmony with the people of Lagos State. The perception problem is too much. How would they trust us when we turn a complainant into an accused person?

“Please let us change for the better. Let us treat Nigerians as our brothers and sisters. Let us respect them so that they can respect us. The public sees us as their last solution. They run to us when they are in trouble because they don’t want to take the laws into their hands. Let us turn a new leaf. Let ‘Police is your Friend’ be in words and in action.

We should learn to be patient with Nigerians. If you kill any innocent Nigerian, the blood of that person will be on you. When you see children crossing, help them cross safely. When we see elderly people, let us assist them this is what obtains everywhere else in the world.”

Aderanti also urged the police officers to desist from mounting any form of roadblock or checkpoints, saying that any officer found flouting the order of the Inspector General of Police would lose his job.

His words: “Anyone caught mounting illegal road blocks would be guilty of gross misconduct. Roadblocks, checkpoints are banned in Lagos. When you mount roadblocks, you would be arrested and dismissed. What you should do is to work hard and stop harassing road users.

“Area ‘A’ has not had any bad stories so far. I want all of you to unlock Lagos in the area of traffic snarl. We would soon launch ‘Operation Unlock Lagos’. The Lagos State Government has been very generous to us. Imagine a Lagos State without Rapid Response Squad (RRS). The state government has been good to the police so we have to work hard. The IG has mandated us to inform you that a lot is going on to improve on your welfare and soon, you shall see the result. He wants to improve your standard of living. What you owe him is to ensure that you do not bring the image of the police down.