The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has condemned the attack on the Ipaja Police Station in Lagos State by some hoodlums, calling for an independent investigation to unravel the real causes of the unfortunate attack.
"There is no justification for crime and violence," the group said in a statement by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma.
It added that pressure of unemployment, poverty and increasing hardship, in addition to predatory approach to law enforcement, "could trigger frustration and recourse to daredevil and reckless actions such as attacks on law enforcement agencies."
SaharaReporters earlier reported on Monday that the Lagos State Police Command, said its officers at the Ipaja Police Division “successfully repelled” the early morning attack on its division by motorcycle operators.
The command spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, had said the attack came after police officers “commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos State."
"The attackers," according to him, who came in their hundreds, "stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station."
But reacting in a statement titled: "the unfortunate and disturbing attack on Ipaja Police State in Lagos: RULAAC calls for impartial and independent investigation," the group said the investigation should be with a view to taking appropriate measures to nip in the bud a repeat of such dastardly attack on the police.
The statement partly read: "RULAAC condemns attacks on uniformed personnel and infrastructure. This attack is unfortunate and unjustifiable. If any group has any concerns about the activities or methods employed by law enforcement agencies to enforce laws, there are civilized and lawful approaches and channels to express or communicate such concerns.
"RULAAC is puzzled as to why okada riders would take recourse to such a daring attack on a police station.
"RULAAC is aware that many okada riders have continued to defy and violate the ban on okada operations on designated routes and highways in Lagos. But RULAAC is also aware of concerns expressed by many about the excesses and the approach of some police officers in enforcing the ban on okada operations, including in some inner streets not included in the ban.
"The Lagos State government's ban on Okada and keke NAPEP (tricycles) exempts some areas in Lagos. The government identified 40 local government areas, local council development areas, and other restricted areas where the use of motorcycles and tricycles for commercial purposes will no longer be allowed.
"However, areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki Peninsula, and the central business district are exempted from the ban due to the belief that Okada constitutes the only means of transportation in those areas."
The statement, however, noted that there had been complaints about some police officers going beyond the restricted areas and pursuing okada riders into inner streets where the ban did not extend to.
"There have also been complaints of extortion. In fact, there are reports that some police officers routinely go to collect daily or weekly 'settlement' from groups of okada riders in some areas in order to allow them to continue to operate without molestation within their neighborhoods. All this needs to be investigated.
"There is no justification for crime and violence but the pressure of unemployment, poverty and increasing hardship, in addition to predatory approach to law enforcement, could trigger frustration and recourse to daredevil and reckless actions such as attacks on law enforcement agencies.
"RULAAC calls for an independent, impartial and effective investigation to unravel the real cause(s) of the unfortunate attack on Ipaja Police Station with a view to taking appropriate measures to nip in the bud a repeat of such dastardly attack on the police."