By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS—Four Rapid Response Squad, RRS, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command escaped death by the whisker in the early hour of yesterday, as a speeding KIA Rio, belonging to a car hire operator rammed into their vehicle, while they were on duty around Ogudu-Alapere area of the state.

The RRS men, who sustained injuries, were said to be patrolling along the axis, inspecting the Light-Up Lagos Project facilities when the accident occurred.

It was gathered that the security operatives were on motion when the car, with a lone occupant, rammed into them from behind at top speed.

The RRS Commander, Tunji Disu, while confirming the incident, disclosed that the RRS vehicle was moving slowly because they were monitoring the Light-Up Lagos Project facilities when the driver of Rio, who was coming from Lagos Island towards Alapere, rammed into their Ford car, with number plates RRS 068 LA.
Noting that the RRS car was pushed into a ditch, Disu said: “Four officers of the RRS were seriously injured, including the driver of the Rio.”

At press time, three of the RRS operatives had been discharged from the hospital, while the fourth, along with the driver of the Kia Rio, were expected to be discharged later.

It was also gathered that the Rio driver started car hire services last Friday, after leaving the services of a truck driving firm.

It would be recalled that vandals had been ceaselessly tampering with Light-Up Lagos project cables since the commissioning of the project in April, as one Lucky Udeagwu was arrested with a 35-meter long cable meant for the project in Ogudu.

In May, RRS operatives again arrested another suspect, Obaji Christopher, for cutting the project cable at the Ogudu axis. These cases of vandalism, the RRS Commander said, informed the constant monitoring of the area by the operatives, particularly at night.