Armed robbers engage Lagos Police in a deadly roller-coaster show

…Mesmerize watchers

…Kill ASP, motorcyclist, injure female Inspector

Four years, residents of Lagos, the city of Excellence, have not seen this kind of spectacle. In fact, the emerging scenario was typical of the dreaded era of robbery kingpin Onyenusi who held Lagosians on the jugular for months, killing, maiming and attacking security men freely as the king of the underworld.

Lekki experience

Such by armed robbers in Lagos was last witnessed more than five years now in Lagos state. Police authorities then were jolted by the temerity of the daredevils who struck in the very busy Lekki area close to the magnificent bridge that links Ikoyi with Lekki. They invaded banks along the water ways from the creeks in the evening hours when people were rushing home after the day’s busy schedules. They released volleys of bullets and carted away millions of naira from the banks after killing many people including policemen.

Enter CP Imohimi Edgal

The operation was such that police authorities swung into action and started raiding all the creeks in Lagos and beyond with a view to stopping such violent raids by the militants who were also kidnapping and killing people at will. While the criminals were at their best elements, posing a great threat to the security of the state, another Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal was appointed in the state. His era witnessed a total clampdown on many criminal activities in the state including the deadly onslaught of the dreaded Badoo cult gang. He recorded huge success.

Now, attack in Ikoyi

Alas, the table turned, last Thursday, in Ikoyi area three armed men operating in a motorcycle brazenly took the bull by the horn and struck in a GSM shop along Adeola Odeku,and tried to shoot their way out of the scene. Reports said that the hoodlums also accosted a man who just withdrew huge sums of money from a nearby bank and forcefully snatched the money from him before attempting to escape. Unfortunately for them, policemen from both Ikoyi division, Onikan and other adjoining areas had converged after receiving information about their operation.

Shootout with the police

Crime Guard learned that as soon as the robbers sited the alert policemen, they engaged them in a heavy shootout while at the same time paving way for their escape in their motorcycle. They were said to be releasing bullets indiscriminately resulting in pandemonium which made it impossible for the police team to meet up with the fleeing robbers. Eyewitnesses said while the robbers who were operating with three motorcycles were busy shooting and maneuvering their way out of danger, they were closely followed by the police. The police team, according to sources, had stern directives to avoid casualties while trying to apprehend the robbers.

Hair raising encounter

Interestingly, it was gathered that the Hollywood and Gestapo styles displayed by the fleeing daredevils baffled a lot of people as they watched and applauded the emerging display of craftsmanship in criminality. A commuter who was inside a commercial bus told Crime Guard that he was nearly tempted to hold one of the robbers on top of his bike. “While we were hearing sporadic gun shots, many people came down from our bus and ran for their safety. I did not know where to run to and I simply stayed by the bus. While I was there, a motorcyclist rode very close to me and if I had known, I would have held him tight. He is lanky and black. As soon as he left where I was, he started shooting into the air. In fact, I nearly collapsed.”

However, the police on their part were professionally targeting them keenly while they meandered through the heavy traffic along their way of escape through Awolowo Way and Falomo area. While this was going on, motorists stuck in the traffic were running helter skelter in order to avoid being hit by volleys of bullet being released by the robbers. Sadly, when the robbers got to a junction near Falomo , they shot an Assistant Superintendent of Police and a female Inspector who were busy controlling traffic.

They also shot and wounded another commercial motorcyclist who ran into their way along the route.

Casualties recorded

Police sources said while they were escaping from Falomo axis, one of them fell off his motorcycle and was promptly arrested while the rest fled through the adjoining bridge and disappeared to an unknown place. The wounded ASP and Inspector were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital where the ASP was pronounced dead while the Inspector is still recuperating in the hospital. The commercial motorcyclist whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time, died on the spot.

SARS swings into action

Meanwhile, police sources intimated Crime Guard that a crack team of policemen from the Special Anti Robbery Squad has been deployed to the area and beyond to fish out the fleeing robbers. It was gathered that the mysterious way the robbers disappeared around the bridges in Falomo fuelled speculations in security circles that they may not have gone far out of the scene of the attack.

Vanguard

Lagos trains health workers to manage deadly viral infections

The Lagos State Government in collaboration with Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust recently trained health workers in public secondary facilities on the management of deadly Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) with a view to increasing their capacity to identify and promptly manage patients during an outbreak of infectious diseases.

Speaking at the training, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, noted that Lagos, with rapid urbanization and a population of over 22 million people, stands at high risk of an outbreak of infectious diseases.

“These diseases are mostly deadly Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers which include, Ebola, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, and Dengue. These deadly viruses cause sporadic outbreaks all over the country and the goal of the training is to build capacity in identifying and containing them in a mega city like ours” he said.

Idris who was represented by the Director Disease Control in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Eniola Erinosho stated that Medical Directors of General Hospitals have been mandated to designate a ward as Isolation Unit to quarantine suspected cases, stressing that this was done to increase the level of preparedness in the management VHF.

“The Ministry of Health in collaboration with DRASA Health Trust through this training seeks to increase the State’s level of outbreak preparedness, build the capacity of health workers to identify, diagnose and manage cases without jeopardizing their safety and that of residents”, Idris stressed.

The Commissioner added that State Government as part of efforts to enhance emergency preparedness has put in place an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Emergency Preparedness and Response, Disease Surveillance, Notification and Response structures in all the 20 local government areas of the State, and the Infectious Disease Control Hospital - Mainland Hospital Yaba.

He also stated that other emergency facilities available in the State include Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Emergency Medical Services (LASEMS), State Environmental Health Monitoring Units (SEHMU), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority.

Idris noted that enactment of Lagos State Public Health Law and the Lagos State Coronary Law supports emergency preparedness and response, adding that there is an Emergency Call Centre in the State which responds to emergency calls on dedicated lines: 767 and 211.

While commending DRASA Health Trust for collaborating with the Ministry of Health to train health workers on the management of emerging infectious diseases, the Commissioner assured the organization of the State government’s commitment and support in establishing a Simulation Training Centre on Emergency Preparedness and Response for Emerging Infectious Disease at the Lagos Mainland Hospital, Yaba.

Earlier, the Managing Director of DRASA Health Trust, Ms. Niniola Soleye explained that the training covers multiple topics including identification and triage of suspected VHF patients, application of standard precautions, and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after dealing with a suspected case.

“This is not a typical lecture or presentation type of training. We are using simulation and scenarios to make it hands-on and to ensure that the doctors and nurses we are training actually go through the process. So that when they are faced with a real live infectious patient as Dr. Adadevoh was with the first Ebola patient in 2014, they will know what to do. That is our goal” she said.

DRASA Health Trust was established in memory of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, the doctor who correctly diagnosed and contained the first case of Ebola in Nigeria. No fewer than 50 Health workers from various general hospitals and primary health care centres in the State were in attendance.

Cancer and HIV/AIDs awareness: LASG seeks private sector partnership

The Lagos State Government has identified the need to explore the private sector involvement in its drive to increase public awareness on Cancer and HIV/AIDs as part of efforts to stem the spread of the deadly diseases.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said that there is a need for the Private Sector and Non-Governmental Organizations to continually support and partner with government in the area of research and public education of these common diseases in the society.

Speaking at an awareness outreach on Breast, Cervical Cancer Screening and HIV Testing and Counseling for Youth in Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area of the State, Akinbile-Yussuf added that the obligation of raising awareness about the potential killer diseases should be collectively pursued and not to be left to government alone.

She lamented that presently, there are no sufficient awareness and knowledge on the causes of breast cancer among young people, stressing that the level of awareness about the signs to look out for when undergoing breast cancer examination should be improved upon.

She said although the state government is aware of the heavy burden the diseases places on victims, the increment in awareness at all public and professional places will go a long way in reducing the spread with the assistance of other health intervention programmes in the state.

She added that research from the private sector will assist the government make adequate provision particularly on breast and cervical cancer awareness campaigns and also make some informed decisions.

The Commissioner urged youths and residents of the area to utilize the free screening, testing and counseling made available for them by the State government

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola appealed to Lagosians to show affection to friends and relatives who are affected by any of the diseases, saying the diseases could be life-threatening at some stages.

He said the screening is in continuation of the global wakeup call for everyone to embrace seeking medical assistance when necessary.

Muri-Okunola advised the people to avail themselves with good health through eating a balanced diet; regular exercise and early detection to reduce chances of being infected with cancer, urging them to also raise awareness in their environments.

The Speaker, Lagos State Youth Parliament, Hon. Seriki Muritala who spoke on HIV prevention and care enjoined patients of the disease not to lose hope but should seek counseling from certified counselors in all government-owned hospitals in the state.