Dr Kayode Olagunju is the sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Rivers State. In the course of his job, gunmen hit him hard and thought he had died in 2002. He tells TUNDE BUSARI how he remains undeterred among other security issues. Excerpts
What constitutes crime on the road?
World over, certain crimes are traffic related. Many crimes are committed on the highways while the road, of course, also provides accessibility to crime scenes and get -away acts, after committing crimes. Definitely, the volume of traffic in any city, not necessarily particular to Port Harcourt, has influences on crimes. There are certain crimes that are only possible in heavy traffic, especially in congested points, where everybody is held down or where a portion of the road is bad, hence road users, particularly motorists, are forced to slow down. It is easier to highjack vehicles, for example, at such locations. Bag snatching and forceful dispossession of certain properties like phones, bangles and wrist watches thrive in congested traffic. These crimes are virtually impossible when traffic is moving. People are pursued and caught up in traffic hold up points by criminals. Some men you find lucking around traffic snarl points are criminals on surveillance, picking their victims and relaying information on phone to their group.
Even some of the people that pretend to be hawking or begging on the streets are criminals with guns embedded on their bodies. They approach their victims and engage them closely, reveal the hidden guns to create fear and disposes them of valuable properties with other road users hardly noticing.
What are the measures in place to curtail these crimes?
Several measures are in place to address the situation in Rivers. Let me start with the efforts of the State government . The Rotimi Amaechi administration has done well in terms of opening up the city and transport infrastructural developments. These have assisted greatly. Then, in terms of traffic management, the FRSC, Police and the Rivers State Transport Management Authority (TIMARIV) are collaborating to ensure that traffic moves, even though most times slowly in the city. The traffic density in Port Harcourt is very high, hence the roads are hardly completely free. That is the reason the state government is also embarking on the Monorail programme where many people can be transported on rail “overhead” the road. When this is completed, it will relieve the road a lot of pressure. And as we are discussing, it will enhance security in the city.
Also, the level of collaboration of the security agencies in the state is very high.
World over, certain crimes are traffic related. Many crimes are committed on the highways while the road, of course, also provides accessibility to crime scenes and get -away acts, after committing crimes. Definitely, the volume of traffic in any city, not necessarily particular to Port Harcourt, has influences on crimes. There are certain crimes that are only possible in heavy traffic, especially in congested points, where everybody is held down or where a portion of the road is bad, hence road users, particularly motorists, are forced to slow down. It is easier to highjack vehicles, for example, at such locations. Bag snatching and forceful dispossession of certain properties like phones, bangles and wrist watches thrive in congested traffic. These crimes are virtually impossible when traffic is moving. People are pursued and caught up in traffic hold up points by criminals. Some men you find lucking around traffic snarl points are criminals on surveillance, picking their victims and relaying information on phone to their group.
Even some of the people that pretend to be hawking or begging on the streets are criminals with guns embedded on their bodies. They approach their victims and engage them closely, reveal the hidden guns to create fear and disposes them of valuable properties with other road users hardly noticing.
What are the measures in place to curtail these crimes?
Several measures are in place to address the situation in Rivers. Let me start with the efforts of the State government . The Rotimi Amaechi administration has done well in terms of opening up the city and transport infrastructural developments. These have assisted greatly. Then, in terms of traffic management, the FRSC, Police and the Rivers State Transport Management Authority (TIMARIV) are collaborating to ensure that traffic moves, even though most times slowly in the city. The traffic density in Port Harcourt is very high, hence the roads are hardly completely free. That is the reason the state government is also embarking on the Monorail programme where many people can be transported on rail “overhead” the road. When this is completed, it will relieve the road a lot of pressure. And as we are discussing, it will enhance security in the city.
Also, the level of collaboration of the security agencies in the state is very high.
Allegation that some of your men are easily compromised is rife, are you also aware?
On the FRSC and corruption, I can conveniently say that the organization has a very high level of performance and credibility. We are not saying, everybody in the corps is a saint, but we continually identify the bad eggs and flush them out. FRSC has high level of intolerance for extortion and any form of corruption or malpractice in the system. We do sel-cleansing and we will continue to sanitize the system. The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka has also done a lot in terms of staff welfare to encourage staff to live above boad.
On the FRSC and corruption, I can conveniently say that the organization has a very high level of performance and credibility. We are not saying, everybody in the corps is a saint, but we continually identify the bad eggs and flush them out. FRSC has high level of intolerance for extortion and any form of corruption or malpractice in the system. We do sel-cleansing and we will continue to sanitize the system. The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka has also done a lot in terms of staff welfare to encourage staff to live above boad.
Have you ever been offered bribe?
I have been offered bribes severally but I have never collected. I have thrown this challenge publicly severally, that whoever has given me bribe to get my job done should say it and, if proven, I will resign immediately and offer myself for prosecution. Some of us, especially the ones people refer to as the “Soyinka boys”, the pioneers of the corps detest bribe and the staff know this. Besides, the societal perception of gratification is also a major problem. There are several ways people are bribed without knowing or people pretending not to know what they are offered is a bribe. I always remember that Prof Wole Soyinka once told us that collecting ordinary sachets of “pure” water on the road is bribery. I always remember these Soyinka’s words that I must continue to warn Marshals that those who accept bribes in return for defaulting on their responsibilities are taking blood money. That the road is patient but it does not forgive. That sounds like a curse and I always use this to enlighten my men. Incidentally, I was instrumental to the establishment of the Monitoring Squad that was policing the Marshals to identify extortionists in the system nationwide during Dr Olu Agunloye’s era. I was the head of the team. Notable members of the team include, the present Sector Commanders of FRSC in Ogun, Ayobami Omiyale, and that of Oyo State Godwin Ogaghaoghene, as well as the present Zonal Head of Operations in Lagos, Dele Kumapayi.
I have been offered bribes severally but I have never collected. I have thrown this challenge publicly severally, that whoever has given me bribe to get my job done should say it and, if proven, I will resign immediately and offer myself for prosecution. Some of us, especially the ones people refer to as the “Soyinka boys”, the pioneers of the corps detest bribe and the staff know this. Besides, the societal perception of gratification is also a major problem. There are several ways people are bribed without knowing or people pretending not to know what they are offered is a bribe. I always remember that Prof Wole Soyinka once told us that collecting ordinary sachets of “pure” water on the road is bribery. I always remember these Soyinka’s words that I must continue to warn Marshals that those who accept bribes in return for defaulting on their responsibilities are taking blood money. That the road is patient but it does not forgive. That sounds like a curse and I always use this to enlighten my men. Incidentally, I was instrumental to the establishment of the Monitoring Squad that was policing the Marshals to identify extortionists in the system nationwide during Dr Olu Agunloye’s era. I was the head of the team. Notable members of the team include, the present Sector Commanders of FRSC in Ogun, Ayobami Omiyale, and that of Oyo State Godwin Ogaghaoghene, as well as the present Zonal Head of Operations in Lagos, Dele Kumapayi.
This strict approach to duty must have exposed you to danger. Am I right or wrong?
An attempt was once made on my life when I was the Lagos Sector Commander of the Corps in the first time, as I actually served as Commander in Lagos, twice. It was on the 13 of July, 2002, when four armed men entered my house and shot me twice in the presence of my pregnant wife. I took a gamble to wrestle with the one that entered my bedroom, rudely woke me up with the flogging of the door and actually pulled the trigger, as the other ones rushed out of the sitting room on guard thinking the job had been done. Miraculously I survived and a nine hour surgical operation followed to remove the bullets and sew up my opened abdomen. I survived through the grace of God.
What did your investigation reveal after the attack?
I was fighting a clique hoarding number plates and making them available at ridiculous prices in Lagos. Governor Bola Tinubu and his Commissioner for transport, Muiz Banire were genuinely concerned in solving the problem. I had a lot of engagements with them and I was particularly determined to break the syndicate. The criminals sent some informal warnings to me, including breaking into my office one night, scattered things in the office and putting fetish things on my chairs and table. I did not bulge. That might have explained their decision to attempt to terminate my life. I went back to my seat after my hospitalization and we succeeded in breaking the syndicate. Guess, the failed attempt on my life made them to also withdraw. The then CP Arebamen, DCP Haruna John, the late DIG and the then RRS Commander, Tunde Sobulo, did marvelous job. No regret on my determination to ensure we had number plates then available to motorists at official rates in Lagos.
I was fighting a clique hoarding number plates and making them available at ridiculous prices in Lagos. Governor Bola Tinubu and his Commissioner for transport, Muiz Banire were genuinely concerned in solving the problem. I had a lot of engagements with them and I was particularly determined to break the syndicate. The criminals sent some informal warnings to me, including breaking into my office one night, scattered things in the office and putting fetish things on my chairs and table. I did not bulge. That might have explained their decision to attempt to terminate my life. I went back to my seat after my hospitalization and we succeeded in breaking the syndicate. Guess, the failed attempt on my life made them to also withdraw. The then CP Arebamen, DCP Haruna John, the late DIG and the then RRS Commander, Tunde Sobulo, did marvelous job. No regret on my determination to ensure we had number plates then available to motorists at official rates in Lagos.
We also partner with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. We encourage states to enact laws banning sales of alcohol at motor parks. We engage the local governments to stop issuing the “on and off” liquor licences to people operating at motor parks. We engage the owners of the Parks, especially the route associations such as the National Union of Road Transport Owners, Road Transport Employers Association and the Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners, to always have checks on their drivers at the parks. We also deal with the Fleet owners under the Road Transport Safety Standardization Scheme. We will not stop doing this until we achieve the desired result.
No comments:
Post a Comment