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The Lagos State Police Command on Monday allayed fears of residents over widespread rumour upheavals in the metropolis.

This followed
messages which are being received by resident via SMS that armed
robbers are operating in different locations aroud the state. The
latest text message said that armed robbers were at Obanikoro bus stop.
The text advised people not to ply the area. As a result of the
message, there was panic as those who received the message passed the
word around to their loved ones warning them to stay away from Ikorodu
road.

All is calm

When NEXT visited
Obanikoro and its environs, people were going about their normal
activities without fear. Some residents expressed surprise at the
message when asked by about the reported clashes or armed robbery that
was reported to have taken place there.

“I am very
surprised at what you are saying, this is news to me and nothing has
happened here since morning. I have been working here since and I have
not seen any armed robber or trouble in this area,” said Mariam John a
LAWMA cleaner in Obanikoro.

Dismissing the
report, the Lagos State Police Command, through its spokesman Frank Mba
said the rumour was being spread by mischievous people.

He said in a
statement, “The attention of the Lagos State Police Command has been
drawn to an emerging but highly disturbing trend, whereby some unknown
persons using modern communication devices such as GSM voice calls,
text messages (SMS), e-mails, instant messaging on Blackberrys, etc,
originate and circulate messages presumably alerting members of the
public of ongoing crimes (usually the violent ones) within specific
locations in Lagos.” He said the news was clearly false and unfounded.
Speaking with our reporter he said, the suspicion of the command was
that the rumour was being spread to overstretch the command. According
to him, some people at the weekend alleged that a robbery was being
carried out by heavily armed robbers on Lagos-Epe expressway.

“The text message
read ‘Lagos-Epe expressway completely blocked by a gang of heavily
armed robbers. If you are heading towards Epe or you know anyone that
is, please stop for now. The dangers of allowing this dangerous trend
to continue unchecked are unquantifiable. The fear of crime — whether
real or imaginary — can be as damaging as the actual crime itself” Mr.
Mba advised Lagosians to call the attention of the police to any crime
in the state instead of spreading false information that will cause
fear and panic.

“The Command
therefore wishes to appeal to members of the public to discontinue
forthwith with this unpatriotic attitude. Citizens are advised to take
advantage of the toll-free emergency lines in Lagos State (767 and 112)
to pass useful information to the police and other law enforcement
agencies rather than resort to the spread of false messages capable of
heating up the polity, distracting law enforcement agencies, spreading
fears and restiveness in the state and negatively impacting on our
general well-being,’’ He further stressed that the command was up to
the task of maintaining law and order in the state.

We enjoin members of the public to go about their lawful businesses
without fear as the State Police Command is determined and ever-ready
at all times and by the grace of God, to continue to improve on our
modest achievements in crime-fighting and peace-keeping within the
state,” Mr. Mba said.