By Olasukanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo

In recent times, there has been a rising wave of crime rates, especially in Lagos, which has continued to put residents and visitors to the megacity in palpable fear of being victims of attacks from hoodlums and armed bandits.

Burdened with the enormous challenge of curtailing the rising crime rate in the state, the state Police Command, has advised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to provide combat-ready helicopters for its men and officers to mount surveillance across the state.

The rising crime rate in the state, hit the head, last Friday, following the murder of one Sodiq in the Mushin area of the state. Sodiq, it was said, was murdered in cold blood by unknown gunmen, around 2pm, shortly after Jumaat service. The killings in the area which was becoming a recurring decimal irked residents, who protested at the Lagos State House of Assembly, to register their displeasure.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved residents, Mr. Abiodun Leshi, explained that the affected streets that have lost sleep in recent times were Taniolodo, Lawani and Ojelawe.

•Okada riders driving against traffic in Lagos

In a related development, there is a fresh battle by Lagos State Government to tackle the resurgence of motorcycle operators popularly called Okada riders in all the 475 restricted roads including bridges and highways in the state. Recall that the last administration of Babatunde Fashola, in 2012, signed the Lagos Road Traffic Bill into law, restricting operations of okada riders from specific roads in the state.

At onset, there was high compliance by the riders, but towards the 2015 general elections, there was an explosion in the resurgence of riders across the state, even on restricted routes. Angered that the riders apparently took advantage of election period to flout the law, the state government last weekend, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the recalcitrant okada riders, not to ply the 475 restricted roads, including bridges and highways. It warned that failure to adhere to the law, both the rider and the passengers, will be prosecuted by a Special Taskforce it has set-up.

Meanwhile, on the increasing crime rate in the state, police officers, particularly Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders, who spoke during an interactive session with Ambode, last week, at the Oduduwa Police Command in Ikeja, lamented that the perennial traffic gridlocks in the metropolis was affecting prompt arrival of the Police at crime scenes, adding that the situation calls for the need of aerial patrol across the state to stem the tide.

Other complaints tabled before the governor was that the helicopters procured by the last administration  were not fully equipped to combat-ready standard, that the daily increase in the state population required the police to adopt more surveillance strategies, that the number of patrol vehicles were not enough to enforce the 2012 road traffic law.

Responding, Ambode said “When we had our security council meeting, this was one of the issues raised at the meeting. We know that the helicopters we have at the moment are not combat ready. So we are looking for helicopters that can perform multi-task that is an helicopter that can patrol the state during the day and at night.

“We want to make sure that we keep the state safe always. Whatever strategy it would require for us to have a safe society, this administration will do it to ensure that lives and property are well protected. The final solution is that we must have an integrated security plan in the state that would ensure that we are safe in the air, on land and water. All these will be integrated together using the Nigerian Police.”

The governor noted that vehicles would be provided to patrol the state and adequate fuel would be supplied to ensure movement of the vehicles, adding that his administration would reactivate the fuel collection point and ensure that adequate fuel is provided weekly.

However, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Coker, who stressed that the Traffic Law (Schedule 11) which restricts the operations of motorcycle as well as Regulation 16 Sub–sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Law are sacrosanct said: “Section 3 Sub-section 1 of the Law stipulates that “No person shall ride, drive or propel a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on any of the routes specified in Schedule 11 to this Law.

“However, it is disheartening to see that motorcycle operators have resurfaced on our restricted roads especially in areas such as Ikeja, Isolo, Apapa, Agege, Epe, Ijede, Shomolu/ Bariga, Ifako Ijaiye/ Ojokoro, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ketu, Ojota, Lagos Island, Ojodu and Badagry, in spite of the various efforts of the past administrations in the State to ensure that the menace of motorcycle operators is curbed and the rate of accident, injuries and death is reduced drastically in the state.”

“The present administration of Ambode would not fold its arms and allow lawlessness, indiscipline, flagrant disobedience to law and order, loss of lives and property of innocent citizens of the state to continue unabated,” he said.