SECURE SCOPE ; STREET GATES AND YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD SECURITY

I have a veterinary doctor friend, Dr. Frank, who is so drawn to animals; you will think he is related to them. How I wish our general public medical doctors have half of this vet doctor’s affection for their patients.
One day, on his way to work from his residence, through his usual route to his clinic, he noticed a dog squatting and sleeping on a pavement, and without much thought, he drove past. However, on his way back from work through the same route, he still noticed this same dog on the pavement but this time around agitated and groaning in pains. He stopped and moved cautiously very close to this dog and using his skills, was able to calm this dog and discovered that it had a fractured front right leg. He managed to carry the dog home.


On getting home, he treated and nursed her daily before going to work and when he returned from work, until the dog became well and strong enough to move around properly. He named her Lucky. They became very close. The dog staying at home while Dr. Frank went to work and welcoming Dr. Frank on his return from work each day.
However one day, when Dr. Frank returned from work, Lucky, the dog was gone. Dr. Frank felt dejected and wished Lucky had stayed but since it had happened he had no choice but to move on with his life.
About a little over a month later Dr. Frank was woken up very early one morning by scratches on his front door. On opening the door, Dr. Frank was surprised to come face to face with Lucky and another dog that had been hit by a vehicle and had a broken left front leg. Lucky ran into Dr. Frank’s living room waging its tail and jumping all over the place. Dr. Frank bent down and helped the injured dog into his home.

‘’However, on his way back from work through the same route, he still noticed this same dog on the pavement but this time around agitated and groaning in pains. He stopped and moved cautiously very close to this dog and using his skills, was able to calm this dog and discovered that it had a fractured front right leg. He managed to carry the dog home’’.

The import of this short story is that, if you see and taste a good thing, you will most sincerely want to show a friend in need.
The existence of street gates goes a while back when communities decoded to help themselves to help the police, that is still under staffed and under funded.
So many years back, robbers will write letters to their intended victims, informing them of their evil visits. In most case, the robbers will show up and raid a good numbers of houses in a street. The surprising aspect of this scenario is that, the recipients of these evil letters will not inform the police and where one is bold enough to inform the police, the security agency will arrive minutes or hours after the robbers have successfully raided their victims.
Some members of a community once got such evil letters and decided to do something about the threat. They not only informed the police in their area, they raised vigilantes from amongst themselves and decided to resist the robbers. On the appointed day, the robbers came in two vehicles. Normally, they will ransack a roll of houses along the street and disappear but this time around they were in for a shock. Immediately, the robbers finished raiding the first house and moved into the second compound, occupants of the first house raised an alarm as arranged and most occupants of the street trooped out and barricaded both the entrance and exit to that street with whatever they had arranged or could lay their hands on.
By the time the robbers finished raiding the second house and came out, it was confusion everywhere. The robbers who were armed became confused. They wanted to get away but could not drive because everywhere and both ends of the street were littered and blocked with huge piles of rubbish, sharp items and stones. The robbers had only one option, run for their dear lives on foot, leaving behind most of the valuables they had loaded into both vehicles. These were later returned to their owners.
Appreciating the effectiveness of blocking their street with rubbish and stones, the community came up with the idea of erecting proper gates to control entry into and exit from their area, with local vigilantes from amongst them controlling the gates. This way they were able to safe-guard their community.
Other surrounding neighborhoods, noticing the effectiveness of this security consciousness, decided to emulate something that was considered a positive innovation. This was how, the construction of street gates for security purposes began to flourish.
Initially, the N.P.F had no problems or quarrels with these gates, but lately, they have been complaining that it sometimes hinders their operations, while pursuing fleeing robbers.
To all discerning stakeholders, the advantages of street gates certainly out weigh the disadvantages. However, it is unacceptable to create an entirely different and very serious problem because we are trying to solve a particular problem.
The effectiveness of street gates, in checking the incidences of robberies in neighborhood is unquestionable but operating guidelines must be strictly adhered to and this is where the Lagos State governments have a problem with some communities where these gates have been erected.
Across the country, there are state edicts and acts, regulating the closure and barricading of streets. However, the circumstances of our times, where incidences of armed robberies, kidnapping and other forms of very violent crimes, now makes us interpret these street closure acts with partisan sentiments.
In the first place, where are you likely to find a concentration of these street gates? How many can you find in places like Ajegunle and Badiya in Lagos State? I am not asking you to answer these questions, but just ponder over them. Insecurity, amongst those comfortable in our midst is beginning to take its toll. People want to try within reasonable limits to protect what they have been able to acquire albeit legally or illegally.
Streets and neighborhoods landlords’ association meetings are now common occurrences where everything concerning residents including security is discoursed. Representatives of tenants are also co-opted. If you do not have one in your neighborhood, you may want to organize one now where you can also discourse and arrange neighborhood watches, in conjunction with the divisional Police Officers (D.P.O) superintending your area. Whatever arrangements landlords or tenants are putting in place to assist themselves and the police in terms of security and traffic flow, must include the D.P.O in charge of the area. The police encourage every law abiding citizens to join and become active members of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in your area. All you need do is walk into the police station in your neighborhood and make inquires and you will be advised on the steps to take to become a member. The police and participating neighborhoods and communities have a lot to benefit from each other in such collaborative ventures. In the face of all odds and shortcomings, the police still remains your best option and a friend, if you doubt this, when next you are in trouble, call a thug and sample the difference. By the way, how many of us citizens, have ever taken the pain to spare a few minutes to walk into the police station in their neighborhood to find out who their D.P.O is, the operations officer, the Divisional Crime Officer (D.C.O) and telephone numbers to call in cases of emergencies. These are very important information every citizen needs to have and the police these days will easily and gladly oblige you. All you need is just walk into the police station and ask. In most stations, these numbers and information are written and pasted on the walls in the charge rooms or information desks.
The police and the Lagos State Government are not against street gates. If you must erect street gates in your neighborhood because you are concerned about safety of lives and property, then arrangements MUST be put in place for the gates to be open between the hours of 5am to 12midnight, and manned between the stipulated periods to serve as alternative traffic routes to aid the flow of traffic during the day, at peak periods and after working hours in the evenings, when people are rushing home in different directions.
That these gates should be manned and be opened for emergencies at night cannot be over emphasized. There could be an emergency in the neighborhood, like, fire or someone dying and the fire truck or ambulance needs to go in, someone MUST be there to open the gates. The police knowing their area, through local knowledge, may want to use your street as shortcut in pursuit of fleeing robbers, you never know. What happens, when they get there in their vehicles and they can’t pass? This could be frustrating.
While we are concerned about our neighborhood safety, let’s spare a thought for others, outside our immediate surrounding, whose lives, at a particular time, may depend on what we have done or failed to do, in our neighbourhood. Till I come your way again in our next edition, go ahead and construct those gate but they must me operated in line with government directives. Remember, you have a right to protect yourself, but your rights stops, where the other man’s rights begin.

-by Goddy Efujuku.

THE END.