Aftermath Of EndSARS Protests: Police, Traffic Wardens Yet To Resume

By Ambrose Ologide, Warri
It has been observed in the past weeks that traffic wardens and police have abandoned their duties of traffic control on the roads monitored by our correspondent in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas after the EndSARS protest.

The roads include the ever busy Enerhen Junction, Main Market and Hausa Quarters all along Warri-Sapele Road.

DESTMA officials seemed to be in sympathy with the traffic wardens and police as they too were no where to be found during the monitoring exercise.

It was rather a young man that was seen controlling traffic at Main Market along Warri-Sapele Road.

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The unidentified youngman was always at the Cemetery Junction, along Warri-Sapele Road doing the voluntary job on a daily basis mostly during rush hours in the mornings and evenings before the EndSARS protest.

The absence of the traffic wardens, police and DESTMA officials has worsened the already bad vehicular movements on the said roads.

Respondents who spoke to our correspondent on the issue, were of different reactions.

A commuter, Madam Janet, reasoned that the EndSARS protesters went too far in attacking other police men, adding: “Though they fought a good fight but they should narrow their focus on SARS officials and not the entire police force. Mind you, the police also have blood running in their veins. So, let them be given some time to watch if it is safe for them to be on their duty posts.”

However, Mr Wale Ojo, who claimed to be a carpenter, opined that the traffic wardens and police have no reason to abandon their duties of traffic control, after the EndSARS protest has ended.

According to Ojo, “They also signed to perform their duties in all circumstances when they were offered employment. They will be paid their salaries at the end of the month.”

He took a swipe at DESTMA officials for abandoning their duties, noting that they should make themselves more relevant in absence of traffic wardens and police.

It would be recalled that the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and Uvwie born, Chief Fetus Keyamo (SAN) during his interactive meeting recently with the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, HRM (Dr) Emmanuel Sideso (JP) OON, Abe 1, advised Nigerians to look at the numerous good sides of the police and not to condemn the entire police force because of few bad eggs.