…cries out for CP’s intervention
Stories by Ahmed Ajikobi
The President of Kwara State Commercial Motorcyclists, Alhaji Fatai Oladimeji has decried the spate of killings of members during robbery operations in the state.
Speaking in an interview with Pilot Crime at the union’s secretariat in Agbo Oba area of Ilorin, at the weekend, he said robbers in recent time, have devised several ways of robbing motorcyclists.
He noted that many of his members who fell victims of the robbery incidents either lost their lives or sustained various degrees of injuries.
“These men of the underworld have several ways by which they attack unsuspecting motorcyclists during their operations.
” The robbers use powder pepper, which they spray into the eyes of their victims. They hit some with sticks, hammers, cutlasses etcetera to make them lose consciousness before taking their motorcycles away.
“As such, some of our members have lost their lives to these incidents within Ilorin metropolis in recent time, ” he lamented.
Citing instances the association boss said, ” a commercial motorcyclist was killed last year along the Admiralty drive, GRA; the robbers used an electrical cable to strangulate him and took away his motorcycle.
“Also along Adewole area, Ilorin, one of our members by the name Azeez was shot dead by robbers who took away his motorcycle. Another one was killed by his assailants who used traps for animal, before dispossessing him of his motorcycle,” he narrated..
Oladimeji also recalled that few months ago a member who is also a vigilante was able to overpower a robber, at Medina area of Ilorin, which led to the raid on the gang’s hideout in Eiyenkorin in Ilorin by security agents.
“Jamiu, our member who is also a vigilante was attacked by a gang of robbers. They shot at him but he deflected the bullets. They now engaged him in a fisticuff and Jimoh was able to overpower them. The robbers took to their heels but he was able to arrest one of them,” he recounted.
According to him about seven members of the gang which specialised in robbing motorcyclists were nabbed by the police and later charged to court.
The association boss then called on the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to come to the aid of motorcyclists whose lives are endangered by activities of robbers in recent time.
Meanwhile, the state Police spokesperson, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi while reacting to the development, said no report has been made to the command.
” I have not received any of such information from anyone. None of them reported any case to us. We told them to report such cases to the nearest police station for proper action. If they had reported, it will surely reach the headquarters and if it’s what the nearest police can handle they will do it.
“Our men have recovered a motorcycle during highway patrol. The suspects saw police men on the road and they parked the bike and ran away. We are yet to get the owner,” he added.
Corruption: Don’t destroy your career, CP warns officers
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has urged men and officers to shun acts that could destroy their careers in the Force.
While addressing the 18 Assistant Superintendent of Police officers(ASP) posted to the command for a month attachment programme, he tasked them to live up to expectation and above board.
The CP also charged them to always portray the good image of the police by steering clear of corrupt acts, warning them against extortion of members of the public, which he said is a crime and a disgrace to Nigeria Police Force.
” Don’t allow few bad officers to influence you. Do the right thing and encourage junior officers serving under you to be of good deeds. If they are doing wrong things let them know and correct them. ”
He warned them against colluding with their subordinates to perpetrate corruption and other acts of indiscipline, reminding them that if caught they would face dire consequence.
Egbetokun, however, advised the officers to employ knowledge of their various disciplines for the development of the Force.
