Security is a duty of all. Citizens have key roles to play in ensuring the safety and security of the society. When citizens ignore warnings or do not alert security agencies about suspicious moves or help in fishing out criminals, it enables criminal offenses.
A 56-year-old mechanic (name withheld) whose workshop is situated along Ijebu-Ijesha Road expressed concerns over what he termed ‘negligence of duty’ on the part of security agencies, particularly police, in Ilesa metropolis.
The mechanic, who spoke in the local dialect while speaking with WITHIN NIGERIA, stated that security authorities must increase their responses to individuals or communal outcry before situations grow and threaten public peace.
The mechanic, who expressed his concern and worry about the speedy and reckless movement of superbikes in the Ilesa metropolis, called on security agencies, particularly the police, to look into the matter.
According to the mechanic, three unidentified persons ride superbikes at high speed within the Ilesa metropolis, causing tension and mounting pressures on road users and residents of the town.
“They were initially two riders, but they are now three. These riders are unidentified individuals. We don’t know if they are males or females. Their superbikes do not have number plates. They wear helmets to cover their faces. They ride at high speed, risking the lives of other road users.”
The mechanic further disclosed that these three persons usually ride occasionally from Ijebu-Ijesha Road to Roundabout to Bolorunduro at high speed.
Another resident, identified as Motunrayo (not her real name), whose shop is located in Bonke Quarters, disclosed that sounds from these superbikes always attracted people wherever they passed through the road.
According to Motunrayo, shop owners, especially kids, would come out for sightseeing, but these riders always move at high speed, which bothers people.
“They don’t care about others on the road. They think they own the road, and nobody shares it with them. These superbikes have no number plates. In fact, riders’ faces are well covered with helmets. If they cause accidents or commit crimes, there’s no way to identify them,” a rather worried Motunrayo disclosed.
Sade (not her real name), a petty trader, expressed concern over the security and safety of kids in the community.
According to Sade, these riders could allegedly be drug pushers or kidnappers who drive at high speed not to be seen or identified to either deliver hard drugs, weed, or body parts to their respective customers at target points.
“They speed a lot. There are many questions in the minds of people about the development. People are curious too. They want to know the individuals behind these superbikes,” she further stated.
Juwon Kayode, a security expert, in a telephone conversation with WITHIN NIGERIA, stated that security agencies, especially the police, must swing into action and identify these riders.
According to Juwon, riders of these superbikes must be apprehended and profiled by security agencies to ease people’s tension about the development.
“Prevention is better than crisis management. People cannot be riding unregistered superbikes without license plates at high speeds in the community and they won’t be investigated, which reveals a lack of response and intelligence gathering. Such an incident would cause panic in the community, Juwon added.
