By Nnenna Ezeah
Relative peace seem to be returning to Kirikiri town in Apapa area of Lagos State, following far-reaching security strategies mapped out by the Police.  In the past, the town which became popular because of the presence of a Federal prison in the area, unfortunately became notorious due to the nefarious activities of criminals.

The situation was so bad that people started dreading the area.  Activities of criminals in the area then ranged from picking pockets to consumption of assorted hard drugs.  It later degenerated to pipeline vandalization and armed robbery.

In fact, the situation became worse after oil magnets sited many tank farms in the area giving rise to not only traffic congestion, but infiltration of the nooks and crannies in Kirikiri by criminal elements from different parts of the country and beyond.

To compound the already bad situation, petite traders and beer parlour operators took umbrage in the newly constructed shops by the  prison authorities which gave rise to an upsurge in both human
and vehicular activities in the area.

This was the situation on ground until early this year when Police authorities posted a woman Chief Superintendent to take charge at the Divisional headquarters, right at the center of the town.  As soon as news of her posting filtered into the area, skepticism pervaded the atmosphere as people wondered how a woman will succeeded in a crime infested area when men failed.

In fact, thongs were wagging that residents of the area and visitors should brace up for the worst especially, when the situation was compounded by the reckless attitude of tanker drivers who turned every available space into a parking lot thereby congesting the town.

First to brace up to the onerous responsibility was the Nigeria navy that painstakingly started posting their men to control the already chaotic traffic situation in the town.  The activities of men of the navy, to a large extent, helped in assuaging the general feeling of complacency until the new female Police officer was posted  to take charge of the Divisional.

Residents of the area who spoke with Crime  Alert said as soon as she assumed duties, they started seeing changes in both the attitude and manner in which Policemen carry out their official duties unlike before when they were terrorizing the citizenry.

According to Simon Eze, a welder in the area, we noticed that some policemen who usually conduct illegal stop -and- check around Kadesoh street, suddenly stopped extorting money from people.  Rather, all efforts were channeled towards traffic control which helped in checking the chaotic nature of traffic in the area.

“We learnt that the DPO quickly called a meeting of all stakeholders where it was resolved that there will be no parking of trucks and tankers again within Kirikiri town, Kadesoh and karimi Streets, “ he said.

A member of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Mr. Rasaq told Crime Alert  that, “we were surprised when the DPO called a meeting of all the landlords and inhabitants of the town and we all robbed minds on how to control activities of criminals in the area.

It was a very good step because, to a large extent, it led to a drastic reduction in crime in the area.  She also followed up with the formation of a vigilante group made up of mostly youths and it is paying off tremendously as many of us now have a sense of belonging in the fight against crime in our area.”

A commercial motorcycle operator, Uchenna Dioke said they were the first group to feel the positive impact of the good works of the new police boss.  “As soon as she resumed duties, we thought it would be business as usual but we were shocked when policemen stopped extorting money from us brazenly.

Before now, you will see policemen at every corner collecting money forcefully from us but the reverse is the case now.  Those of them that try to engage in that presently, do so at the risk of losing their job if caught because we learnt that the DPO cautioned that they should only stop us when we committed crime.

We have also noticed a drastic reduction in the activities of pipe line vandals in the area. Before now, we were at the great risk of fallen victims to their nocturnal operations following incessant clashes between them and security men who normally come to take their own booty and not to stop them.

We also learnt that  the Police have been able to arrest the hoodlums that killed their colleague in 2008 during a crisis that erupted at the waterside.  This, to me, is one of the numerous modest achievements of the female officer in-charge of the division and I think she should be encouraged to do more.”

However, the owner of a popular eatery in the area,  Cuizine Restaurant, Chief Dozie told Crime Alert  that in as much as the Police in Kirikiri have performed creditably well in maintaining relative peace, both the authorities and resident of the town should work hard to help in equipping them in order to perform better.

“That woman DPO, Ginikachukwu,  is a miracle worker going by what we have seen on the grounds here.  She deserves all encouragement by all and sundry”, he stated