By Abisola THOMPSON
Some Pedestrians in Lagos on Tuesday called on the Police to provide security at pedestrian bridges in the state, especially during the early hours and in the evenings.
TBI Africa said that the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the pedestrians said they were usually afraid whenever they used the pedestrian bridges during the early hours of the day, as well as in the evenings.
Mr Babatunde Thompson, a banker, said that he had observed some hit-and-run cases which occurred because of the failure of pedestrians to use the (pedestrian) bridges during the early hours.
“I only use the pedestrian bridge when I wake up late. I can’t use it whenever it is getting dark because I won’t be able to see any one walking behind me.
“If only we can have security personnel patrolling the pedestrian bridges, just like they do on Lagos roads, the bridges will be seen as safe and hit-and-run cases would be reduced,’’ he said.
Mr Phillip Audu, another trader, said he uses the pedestrian bridges only during the day, for fear of being attacked whenever it’s dark.
“I use the pedestrian bridges during the day but whenever I do feel safe in it and I notice that the Kick-Against-Indiscipline (KAI) officials are absent, I stay away from them.
“I prefer to take my time, look left and right and cross the road than being caught unawares by criminals on the bridges.
“There was also a day I noticed I was being followed, so I just avoided the pedestrian bridge so that I don’t expose myself to more danger.
“I will suggest that we have policemen attached to these pedestrian bridges to ensure safety early in the morning and in the evening hours.’’ he said.
Mrs Patience, yet another trader, also said that the only reason she uses the pedestrian bridge is for the fear of being arrested by law enforcement officers.
“If not for the KAI officials, I won’t use the pedestrian bridges. I don’t feel safe using them, especially on my way home in the evenings when I am with my daughter.
“I start praying from the moment I start climbing, till I get down. I will feel much safer if policemen are deployed around the bridges,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, observed that while some pedestrians complain of the stress of using the pedestrian bridges, most of them described safety as their reason for not using the bridge.
Reacting to this, the Lagos State Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, said police surveillance will be extended to pedestrian bridges and the menace will be tackled, just like traffic robberies.
“To be honest, traffic robberies have reduced drastically because of the measures put in place and same will be deployed to ensure safety on the pedestrian bridges.
“We have undercover operatives spread all over to monitor the activities of hoodlums, identify them, the times they operate, and also track them.
“Part of these measures led to the recent arrest of two notorious robbers at the Lekki area of Lagos. More arrests have been made as we now have six others in custody.
“So it’s an ongoing operation as the command aims to sanitise the state so that people can peacefully move around, either in traffic or on pedestrian bridges.’’ he said.
