‘No Daylight Robbery Incidents In Lagos’ — Police Allay Residents’ Fears

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Police Command has dismissed speculations that there are incidents of daylight robbery in some parts of the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, debunked the rumours in a statement on Tuesday.

A graphic from an unknown source titled Incident Alert System had claimed that there was growing concern as “robbers operating in tricycles (Keke NAPEP) loom large, robbing passengers in broad daylight between Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, and Ikeja under the bridge.”

“Several victims, including medical doctors and health practitioners, have fallen prey in the past week, with many brutally attacked as they were dispossessed of their money, phones, and jewelry.

“It is envisaged that this trend will be on the rise as we approach the Yuletide,” the alert added.

Hundeyin said such incidents are nonexistent but admitted that there might have been “one or two opportunistic pick pockets who snatched phones.”

He urged Lagos residents to go about their lawful duties in the mentioned axis and other parts of the state without fear of harassment or intimidation, assuring them of safety.

“We wish to state categorically that this is scaremongering. There are no incidents of ‘robbers in tricycles, robbing passengers in broad daylight between Adeniyi Jones and Ikeja Underbridge’,” the police spokesperson said.

“While there might have been one or two opportunistic pick pockets who snatched phones and made away with the phones, claims of ‘several victims…brutally attacked’ in broad daylight in the ever-busy Ikeja is nothing but an exaggeration calculated at causing panic.

“Furthermore, the projection that ‘this trend will be on the rise’ is not only ill-conceived but is an outcome of a watery and shallow crime trend analysis.

“Lagosians are, therefore, encouraged to go about their lawful duties in the mentioned axis and Lagos State at large without fear of harassment or intimidation, as the Police Command has commenced in earnest improved deployment of human, material and operational resources to ensure their safety and security as the year draws to a close and beyond.”