Passengers who use public transport (trotros) have been advised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Retd), David Eklu, to remain alert to their surroundings and avoid exposing cash and other valuables.
The advice follows reports circulating on social media about alleged attacks on unsuspecting commuters.
Speaking to The Mirror in Accra last Wednesday, DCOP (Retd) Eklu, who is a security expert, said passengers should develop the habit of assessing their surroundings and identifying anything that appeared unusual while travelling.
According to some accounts, passengers boarded trotros and sat at the back of the vehicles, next to two men wearing nose masks, before being offered sachet water by the same individuals.
In some cases, the water was reportedly offered after a passenger had bought water from a vendor who did not have change.
The victims allegedly drank the water or used it to wash their faces and hands before losing awareness of what was happening around them. It was alleged that the vendor was in cahoots with the two men wearing nose masks.
Some victims were reportedly found unconscious under the seats or still sitting in the vehicle but appearing to be asleep, while others allegedly travelled beyond their destinations before regaining consciousness.
In some accounts, money and other valuables were reportedly missing afterwards. However, DCOP (Retd) Eklu cautioned that such reports should not automatically be treated as confirmed cases.
He said allegations circulating on social media needed to be independently verified through proper police investigations and, where necessary, medical reports before it could be established that victims had actually been drugged or exposed to a harmful substance.
He said people should nevertheless regard the reports as a reminder to take their personal security seriously.
Know your surroundings
According to DCOP (Retd) Eklu, one of the most important precautions people could take was to remain conscious of their environment.
He said passengers should pay attention to the people around them and take note of unusual movements or behaviour rather than ignoring things that appeared out of place.
He cited the reported situation involving two people wearing nose masks and sitting together.
“Although wearing nose masks is not, by itself, evidence of criminal activity, post-COVID-19, it is no longer common to see people wearing them. So, passengers should develop the habit of noticing unusual circumstances and considering whether they should change their position or alert the driver,” he said.
He stressed that environmental awareness was a mindset that could help people identify potential risks before they became victims.
Protect cash and valuables
DCOP (Retd) Eklu also warned passengers to be particularly careful when carrying cash or electronic devices.
He said that money was a significant risk factor because criminals could target individuals who were known or suspected to be carrying large amounts of cash.
He urged passengers to be mindful of what they were carrying and avoid unnecessarily exposing valuables to people around them.
“Once you carry cash, once you deal with cash, once you move cash from one place to another, then you must know that your risk level is higher,” he said.
He explained that some criminals were opportunistic and could take advantage of what they saw, while others planned their operations carefully.
The role of drivers
DCOP (Retd) Eklu also called for drivers and their mates to be trained to recognise unusual movements and activities inside their vehicles.
He suggested that station masters and other people operating at transport loading points should also receive security awareness training to enable them to identify and report suspicious behaviour to the police.
Report, don't just post
DCOP (Retd) Eklu further encouraged people who had been victims of robbery or an attack to report the matter to the police rather than relying solely on social media.
He said social media could help draw attention to an issue, but the police needed formal reports to investigate cases and determine whether several incidents were connected.
He also proposed that the Ghana Police Service establish a social media listening post to monitor reports, verify them and identify possible emerging patterns of crime.
According to him, if a pattern was established, the police could alert the public and introduce measures aimed at preventing further incidents.
Self-defence tools
DCOP (Retd) Eklu said people could use self-defence tools such as pepper spray and tasers to protect themselves, but cautioned that such tools had to be used carefully and appropriately to avoid causing harm.
He said people who chose to carry such tools should understand how to use them and should not resort to them at the slightest provocation because, although their use may be permitted under certain circumstances, misuse could result in legal action.
Vigilance remains key
DCOP (Retd) Eklu acknowledged that careful people could become victims because criminals could take them by surprise.
He said personal security should, therefore, not depend solely on carrying self-defence tools, but should begin with awareness of one's environment and an understanding of one's risk factors.
“The greater part of it is done when you are aware of your movements and your environment,” he said.
For trotro passengers, therefore, the advice is to remain observant, protect cash and valuables, take unusual behaviour seriously and report suspected attacks to the police.
