Encomium
… Warns Against False Distress Calls
In a renewed onslaught to rid Lagos of crimes, the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) has arrested suspects in various areas of the State resulting in the recovery of items including arms, ammunition and valuables from armed robbers.
According to the July monthly report issued by the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, the squad recovered an AK47 rifle with two magazines containing 45 rounds of ammunition at the scene of an accident along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja.
Disu explained that in response to an emergency call in the early hours of 22nd July 2018, the RRS monitoring team arrived at the accident scene but discovered that the lone accident vehicle had a rifle in it. Nevertheless, officers evacuated the victims to a nearby hospital, confiscated the weapons and commenced investigations on the incident.
In the same vein, he disclosed that a surveillance tour of some areas in Ikeja and its environs led to the arrest of two miscreants notorious for stealing handsets on the Oshodi Bridge along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. The arrested male suspects were Ezekiel Adebowale (aged 21) and Yusuf Ibrahim (19) were searched after being apprehended and three phones were found in their possession.
He said upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to have ‘technically removed’ the phones from a passerby and were subsequently taken to the Mosafejo Police Station for further inquiry and prosecution.
The RRS Commander averred that another routine patrol of the squad led to the arrest of rival groups of miscreants found to be disturbing the peace along Brown Street in Oshodi area of Lagos, adding that in response to a distress call, the squad arrived the scene of the fray to discover that dangerous weapons were being used freely in a street fight between hoodlums in broad daylight.
He said the police team intervened and ensured public peace was restored in the area while patrol activities have been intensified to forestall further violence, assuring residents that the Command remains committed to ensuring that public peace and order is maintained not only in the area but in the State.
Meanwhile, the Commandant has cautioned members of the public against making false distress calls, saying that the time and resources spent by the security team in responding to fake alarm can be better utilised in areas where they are actually needed.
He gave several instances when the team of policemen arrived at scenes of distress calls only to discover that the reported cases did not exist.
He said one of such was a distress call received on the 30th July 2018 about an ongoing robbery incident at Ishola Street around Excellence Hotel in Ogba, but on arrival at the scene by the RRS operatives, the area was devoid of any robbery incident.
According to him, another case of such false claim was recorded when the emergency line of RRS received a telephone call about a non-existent robbery at 74, Eyinlogun Street, Ayo Bus Stop, Mafoluku, Oshodi.
Disu assured Lagos residents that his squad will continue to respond to emergency situations, stressing that it is important for members of the public to provide timely and accurate information to enhance the performance of security operatives within the State.
