Follow Us on Google
…condemn harassment of operatives
The Lagos State Police Command has defended its Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle seen driving against traffic in a trending video, saying the movement was lawful and part of an emergency operation.
This is contained in a Wednesday statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abimbola Adebisi.
A video of the RRS vehicle driving against traffic trended on X earlier in the week, drawing sharp criticism from netizens.
However, the command said the vehicle, identified as ‘RRS Attack 07’, was responding to distress calls and was attempting to clear a traffic obstruction.
“The movement of police vehicles against the normal direction of traffic is permissible under legally recognised emergency and operational circumstances, particularly when officers are responding to distress calls, pursuing criminal suspects, undertaking urgent security operations or carrying out other exigent official duties,” Adebisi said.
She disclosed that the RRS team, led by an Inspector of Police, was detailed by the command’s Control Room following distress calls from individuals trapped in traffic congestion, requesting police intervention to restore free flow.
“The RRS team, known for its prompt responsiveness and operational efficiency, was the closest available police formation to the location and immediately responded to the distress calls. In order to access the point where the obstruction originated and effectively address the situation, the team had to navigate through the opposite lane of the road,” the statement reads in part.
The command said traffic congestion in Lagos, if not promptly managed, can escalate and extend to adjoining roads, disrupting economic activities and impeding access for emergency services.
“The team’s action was therefore a deliberate operational decision taken in the interest of public safety and the convenience of other road users, and not an act of arbitrary disregard for traffic regulations,” she stated.
The command cited Regulation 158 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, which permits a law enforcement officer driving a vehicle under an emergency situation or while engaged in civil protection to disregard the directions of a prescribed road traffic sign, subject to exercising due regard for safety of other road users.
The police, however, condemned what it described as confrontation, harassment and deliberate obstruction of the operatives while carrying out the assignment.
“The conduct of the individuals, including their utterances captured in the video, raises concerns about possible personal animosity and a deliberate attempt to undermine officers performing their lawful duties,” the command said.
It added that the deliberate blocking of the road by individuals, denying other motorists access, constitutes an infringement on the rights of other road users and amounts to obstruction of police officers under Section 98 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.
“While the command recognises the rights of citizens to express concerns, demand accountability, and constructively criticise police conduct, it will not condone deliberate acts of intimidation, harassment, provocation, or obstruction of Police officers performing lawful operational assignments,” the statement further reads.
The command also cautioned social media content creators against provoking or obstructing personnel for sensational content.
The command said, “The use of police personnel as subjects of deliberately orchestrated confrontations for online engagement is unacceptable. Henceforth, the command will not tolerate such conduct, and anyone found culpable of committing an offence in this regard will be made to face the full weight of the law.”
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reiterated the command’s commitment to professional, responsive and accountable policing.
