• FRSC deploys personnel to Ibadan highway
AN assurance has come from the Lagos Police Command that it has beefed up security on major routes within the state to prevent criminal activities during the Christmas.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday said 2,400 personnel had been mobilised to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for Yuletide patrol.
The state Police Commissioner, Mr. Umar Manko, told reporters in Lagos that officers and men were deployed to major routes and event centres to discourage criminals.
He said 919 vehicles were recovered from suspected armed robbers, while 54 robbery cases were prosecuted.
Manko noted that 472 armed robbers were arrested while 390 arms and 16,034 live ammunition were also recovered from the bandits.
The police boss added that the on-going construction of roads in the state, coupled with the increasing traffic jam, informed the need for the Command to re-strategise its security network.
According to him, the present security arrangement is yielding results, adding that it was usual for the Command to always plan ahead.
The police chief also announced that apart from roads and event centres, the Command also deployed its men to departmental stores, markets and motor parks.
Manko expressed happiness that the Command was on top of the security situation in the state, saying that crime rate had dropped drastically.
He said the last six months witnessed low report of armed robbery activities, kidnapping and snatching of vehicles.
He called on members of the public to always be at alert and report any person or group suspected to be criminals to the nearest police station for appropriate action.
It was reported that the statistics presented by the police at a Town Hall meeting on November 28 showed that 146 armed robbery suspects were killed by the Command from November 2012 to date, adding that the hoodlums were killed when they engaged the police in gun duel at different robbery operations across the state.
The Command said that no fewer than 39 of its men were killed during the same period.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr. Chidi Nkwonta, told journalists in Lagos that the step would ensure accident-free period.
According to him, the personnel, comprising 1,200 regular marshals, 1,000 special marshals and 200 NYSC Road Safety Club members, began operations on Monday.
Nkwonta added that the Command had released 38 patrol vehicles, two tow trucks and two ambulances to arrest any unforeseen situation on the highway.
“Our corporate goal for this festive period is to record zero crash on Lagos-Ibadan highway and that is why we are not leaving any stone unturned”, he noted.
The sector commander urged road-users to obey traffic regulations because traffic offences would attract appropriate penalties.
By Adeniyi Idowu Adunola and Tolulope Okunlola
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