The Lagos State Taskforce has increased its efforts to curb the rising threat of “one chance” operators and traffic-related crimes by deploying additional patrol motorcycles across key areas in the state.
This action follows numerous complaints from the public after the agency’s initial rollout of Max S Bikes in August.
According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, the reinforcements will help intensify patrol operations, particularly in high-risk areas such as Agege Motor Road, Fagba, Gbagada Expressway, Iyana-Oworo, and Oshodi Expressway.
“The deployment of additional patrol units will significantly improve our ability to respond swiftly to incidents, track down criminals, and ensure the safety of all motorists,” said Akerele.
“The Lagos State Taskforce remains committed to maintaining law and order within the metropolis, ensuring that all citizens can travel without fear of robbery or other criminal activities,” he continued
Akerele highlighted the urgent need for enhanced security, given the high number of public complaints about “one chance” robberies, where unsuspecting commuters are lured into vehicles and robbed of their belongings.
He assured Lagosians that the increased number of patrol bikes will create a greater sense of safety and help reduce traffic crimes. “We want the public to know that we are actively working to make Lagos safer,” he added.
Akerele also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the agency through their designated hotline at 08089705008 or via their social media platforms.
The Director of Press and Public Affairs for the Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, echoed the Chairman’s call for public cooperation, emphasizing that these new measures will not only curb crime but also improve environmental safety across the city.
The additional motorcycles are expected to enhance mobility for Taskforce officers, enabling quicker responses to emergencies and ensuring that crime hotspots are more closely monitored.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
