LAGOS – Traders at the Electronics Section of the Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos State, say they have engaged the services of conventional security agencies to curb incessant armed robbery within the
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market.
The traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the market witnessed [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]increased robbery attacks in 2014 to the detriment of the dealers and customers.
They said the reason for the engaging the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″](NSCDC) to complement the private security men they had was because they would be armed.
The traders added that their presence would scare criminals from coming into the market.
Mr Ben Eze, the leader of the section’s taskforce on crime and other matters, said the security beef-up [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]was at the instance of the taskforce.
Eze said that the physical presence of the security personnel was one of the measures put in place to keep the market secured.
“The issue of insecurity for some time has given the community concern that made the leaders of the section to agree on some templates to curb it.
“In 2014, so many of us have lost valuables and goods to robbers in broad daylight which scared customers away from the market.
“What we have to do is to secure both customers and dealers and to make the market safe as the hub of electronics trade in the West African sub-region,” Eze said.
An NSCDC officer, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the corps’ involvement was to provide maximum security.
“With the support of private security personnel and the traders, insecurity will be a thing of the past.
“Apart from being engaged by the market, we are determined to protect lives and property which in turn will attract foreign investors,’’ the NCDSC official said.
He appealed to the traders to maintain personal security and report any strange movement to the operatives for immediate action.
NAN reports that increased commercial activities have started in the market after its five-day closure for the Christmas and New Year. (NAN)