FEATURES: RRS- Running for Cover?

RRS motorcycle parked at Mile 2

Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the Rapid Response Squad (RSS) in Lagos State stationed run-down patrol motorcycles without its officers around them in strategic parts of the state, but police authorities claim that they are good and that its men are merely running for cover

"Right at a point where a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) motorbike was stationed, I was robbed at night and yet I found no help, apparently because the bike was just stationed there as a fright without any police officer around and robbers are aware of those gaps and they are taking the advantage to dispossess people of their valuables even right at the place where you find such bikes. It is annoying."

Those were the words of Femi Adeniyi who was recently robbed at Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos State near a point where the RSS patrol motorbike was stationed. Adeniyi claimed his car broke down while on his way home around the patrol motorbike belonging to the police.

            

He said: "My car broke down in Aguda, Surulere and I was confident that I was safe because of the presence of the motorcycle there. But I was wrong because I saw hell that night within minutes that the car broke down. Some armed hoodlums suddenly appeared right where my vehicle broke down near the stationed police patrol bike and demanded for money, phone and my wrist watch. They pointed gun at me and ordered me to cooperate with them.

"Initially, I thought the policemen were merely bidding their time before they will pounce on the hoodlums and rescue me, but to my dismay, I was robbed of all I had and there was no police officer anywhere, except for the motorcycle."

Adeniyi told THISDAY that he was later informed by people familiar with the location that the motorcycle had been stationed there for a long time without any officer manning it. “When I later narrated my story to some people around, I was told that the particular bike had been stationed there for ages and probably might not be in good condition,” he said.

Also speaking to THISDAY about his experience which happened at the Mile 2 area of the state where one of those bikes is stationed, Mr. Emeka Ogomegbulam, an accountant, said he was robbed in the presence of other passengers without police officers in sight, though the motorcycle was there on the bridge.

"I was driving from Cele to Orile and I was on the service lane on the Mile 2 Bridge in order to navigate to the path that would take me towards under the bridge for my journey to Orile. As usual, there was traffic on the bridge and before I knew it, four boys approached my vehicle because my windows were wound down.

"At first, I thought they were street vendors, but alas I was told to hand over all that I had. I tried to argue with them because I had such high hopes that the RRS officers whose bike I could see from my position would come to my rescue, unfortunately, it ended in disappointment."

He added: "It was a bad day. I had no choice but to surrender all; my phones, wallet containing my credit cards and other valuables like laptop and painfully my Ipad which had sensitive data of clients. After I was robbed, the boys disappeared and I quickly came down and rushed to where the motorbike was stationed and looked round for the police but there was no police officer there,” Ogomegbulam told THISDAY.

THISDAY independent investigations revealed that while  some of these motorbikes which are stationed in strategic places in Lagos State like Mile 2, Anthony, Maryland, Ikeja, Lekki roundabout, Jakande, Aguda, Surulere, Apapa Road, Alaka, Ijora, Iddo, Yaba, Oshodi and Cele, amongst others are not in good working condition, others are there without police officers in charge.

Some security experts who spoke with THISDAY under condition of anonymity on the state of the motorcycles and their impacts on crime control in the state said RRS led by Akeem Odumosu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, is not utilising the motorcycles adequately well to respond to emergency situations which was the core reason they were deployed to the roads. The experts claimed that instead of combating serious crimes, most of the police officers using the motorcycles are seen chasing after commercial buses to extort money from the drivers.

RRS in the Beginning

The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) was established by the former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu as a replacement for Operation Sweep created by his predecessor, Brigadier Buba Marwa who was the military administrator of Lagos State before the advent of democracy in 1999.  Operation Sweep was created as a joint task force comprising the Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Air Force to provide security for lives and property in the state.

Undoubtedly, while the squad lasted, it tackled crime within the state before the armed forces members of the squad were withdrawn and Operation Sweep metamorphosed into what is now known as the Police Mobile Force (PMF).

Therefore, the RRS was established as an arm of the Lagos State Police Command and like the name implies, to respond to emergencies within the state in good time.

Lacking in Capacity?

                                       

Ands while many would be quick to criticise the squad for its inefficiency, the RRS personnel however feel they are being overstretched beyond their capacity.

One of the personnel who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said the reason why the motorbikes are often found without personnel stems from the fact that the numbers of police officers available for patrol assignments are grossly inadequate in a state like Lagos.

He said: "What do you expect when you deploy officers to a 24-hour work without rest?  It’s important to understand that the officers are human, even though we have the task to protect the state.

"If you check properly, I am sure the officers would be around somewhere at those points but they might have devised a means to take time off to rest nearby. At least, I know that at the Mile 2 axis, they often rest at the mechanic workshop under the bridge.”

He added: "If we can have more hands, where it’s possible to work out a 12-hour shift for our personnel, that will make them more alert for duty and ensure that they are on their duty post as at when due.

"Again, you can’t blame them. The question we often ask ourselves is whether our lives are worth giving up for Lagosians.  About five weeks ago, three of our officers were killed in a gun duel with armed robbers at Agidingbi, Ikeja and their families are in pain now. So most times, they leave the point where their bikes are stationed to avoid being an easy target for robbers."

Lagos Lawmakers React

Alarmed by the increasing spate of robbery in the state, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, recently said the lawmakers might be forced to summon the RRS Commander to give explanation.

Ikuforiji who expressed displeasure at the growing crime rate in Lagos State despite the huge funds allocated to security had also called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to direct the RSS Commander and his men to quickly begin work to reduce the crime rate in the state.

He was reacting to the disclosure by the lawmaker representing Mainland Constituency 2 on the floor of the House of Assembly, Moshood Oshun, that armed robbers’ activities around Yaba area of the state is alarming.

Ikuforiji also addressed the issue of the alleged inadequate equipment for the squad to function efficiently saying the lawmakers had approved the provision of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the squad, adding that the governor should call a security meeting to know why the police are still complaining about not having sophisticated equipment.

The Police React

In his reaction, RSS Commander, CSP Akeem Odumosu said the officers can't seat on the motorcycles like those in patrol vans and so they often hang around in strategic places within that environment.

He said: "If you look around, you will surely see them around the area where their bikes are stationed."

However, when THISDAY further sought to understand whether it was right for the officers to abandon their patrol bikes, he referred the reporter to the state command's public relations officer.

When THISDAY approached the police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Ms. Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, she concurred with Odumosu.

According to her, it was part of the strategic plans put in place by the police.

She said: "It is part of the strategic measures we put in place to checkmate crime. If the men are on their motorcycles, the criminals will see them but they won't see the criminals and it puts them at a disadvantage.

"So, anywhere you see the RRS motorcycle, check around and you'll see our men in the shadows. Therefore, it’s not the basis to say that our motorcycles are moribund, rather, the men are around them but obviously not where you will see."

When THISDAY recounted the experiences of the victims especially that of the Mile 2 incident, she said she was not aware of it and so could not comment on whether they were robbed just because the personnel were not by their bikes.