Police defend RRS one-way traffic movement, warn against harassment

The Police Command in Lagos State has defended the movement of a Rapid Response Squad (RRS) patrol vehicle against the normal direction of traffic, saying the officers were responding to distress calls to clear a traffic obstruction.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Abimbola Adebisi, stated this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos while clarifying the circumstances surrounding a trending video showing the RRS patrol vehicle, marked ‘RRS Attack 07’, driving against the flow of traffic.

Adebisi said the patrol team, led by an Inspector of Police, was dispatched by the command’s control room following distress calls from motorists trapped in the congestion.

“The team was the closest available police formation to the location and had to navigate through the opposite lane to access the source of the obstruction and restore free movement.

“The action was a deliberate operational decision taken in the interest of public safety and was not an arbitrary disregard for traffic regulations, ” she said.

The spokesperson said that police vehicles were permitted to disregard normal traffic directions under legally recognised emergency and operational circumstances, provided due regard was given to the safety of other road users.

Adebisi cited Regulation 158 of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, which permits law enforcement officers responding to emergencies or engaged in civil protection duties to disregard prescribed traffic signs.

The spokesperson, however, condemned the alleged harassment, confrontation and deliberate obstruction of the officers while carrying out the assignment.

She said the conduct of the individuals involved, including their utterances captured in the video, raised concerns about possible personal animosity and attempts to undermine officers performing their lawful duties.

The image maker said that deliberately blocking the road denied other motorists access and infringed on their rights.

The PPRO noted that such conduct could amount to obstruction of police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties under Section 98 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

While acknowledging citizens’ rights to demand accountability and constructively criticise police conduct, she said the command would not tolerate intimidation, harassment, provocation or obstruction of officers performing lawful assignments.

The spokesperson also cautioned social media content creators against deliberately provoking or obstructing police personnel to generate sensational online content or demoralise officers.

She warned that anyone found culpable of committing an offence in this regard would face the full weight of the law.

Adebisi said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani, reiterated the command’s commitment to professionalism, effective service delivery and accountability in policing.

“CP Tijani reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professional, responsive and accountable policing.

“The CP assured residents of sustained efforts to protect lives and property, maintain public order and ensure free movement across the state, ” the spokesperson said.