Traffic law: ‘Stop harassing motorcyclists on legal routes’

Call has gone to the policemen enforcing the new Lagos State traffic law to stop harassing okada riders on legal routes.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agba Nchor (retd.), made the call during a send-off organised in his honour by officers and men of Gowon Estate Police Station and Police Community Relations Committee of the estate inLagoson Saturday.

Nchor said, “In enforcing the LagosStatetraffic law, policemen should allow okada riders to operate in the areas they are allowed to operate.

“Enforcing the law on all routes is not what the law stipulates. They should know that they are people whose means of livelihood depends totally on okada operations.”

He also warned some policemen against gossip, saying it was causing disaffection among the rank and file of the force.

“Do not look at the offices of the officers with envy. Wait for your time,” Nchor said.

He also urged the public not to make the office of the divisional police officer clumsy, saying there is division of labour in the divisions.

“There is division of labour in the divisions. For instance, report crime to the divisional crime officer. Issues relating to accident and traffic should be reported to the divisional traffic officer while that of operational issues should be reported to the DPO. A situation whereby all matters are reported to the DPO, makes his office clumsy,” Nchor said.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Taiye Oyeniyi, called on the public to assist the police to achieve effective policing.

He said in Idimu area of the state, communities had spent over N100m to assist the police.

“If we empower the police, they will perform well. Welfare of the policemen should be taken seriously,” Oyeniyi said.

He urged the current DPO of Gowon Estate Police Division to take his cue from Nchor, whom he described as a disciplined officer.

He said during Nchor’s tenure as the DPO, criminals in the estate and its environs were routed.

He called for the reform of the police, saying the low ranks in the force needed proper orientation and education to key into modern policing.

Acting DPO of the station, Amos Oria, assured Nchor that ‘Baby Kuwait’, a name given to a notorious haven of bandits in the estate, would never live again.

Oria said, “Even in your handover note, this was emphasised. We will consolidate on this tempo and we will not disappoint you, the entire police force andNigeriain general.

“We are still learning and each time we call on you for your fatherly assistance, kindly oblige us.”