The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, has said sustained collaboration between residents, community leaders and security agencies has contributed to the relative peace in Ikorodu.

Mr Tijani said this on Thursday at a town hall meeting with personnel of Area N Police Command and other stakeholders in Ikorodu, with the theme “Strengthening Community Partnership for a Safer and More Secure Ikorodu.”

He said that the command had continued to engage communities through regular sensitisation campaigns and stakeholders’ meetings, in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu.

“Despite all odds, we still have to come around and collaborate with the people of Ikorodu. It is one of the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, that we should engage our communities and hold stakeholders’ meetings regularly,” the CP said.

According to him, the police have been moving round communities to educate residents on the need to work closely with security agencies.

“We have been sensitising people and community members on how to collaborate with the police, particularly on the need to secure their communities.

“Policing is everybody’s business, and it has to do with the collaboration of the people before we can have effective policing in all our communities. That is why we are here today,” he said.

Mr Tijani said that the command was not relying solely on arrests and prosecution but was also focusing on counselling, engagement and preventive policing, especially among youths.

“We can arrest and prosecute all the time, but we also admonish. Most of the crimes are being committed by youths.

“When they see police officers, they run away because of incriminating things they may be carrying. Youths should be able to talk to us,” he said.

The police commissioner said that parents should not be blamed entirely for the behaviour of their children, adding that constant engagement remained necessary.

“I will not say parents have failed in taming their children, but we need to keep talking to them all the time.

“We also need to talk to ourselves and to community leaders on the need to do away with crime and criminality and to collaborate with security agencies on how to secure our areas,” he said.

Mr Tijani recalled that cultism, robbery and other criminal activities surged in Ikorodu some months ago, adding that the situation improved following a series of security interventions.

“Some five months ago, there was a surge in criminal activities in Ikorodu, particularly cultism and robbery.

“We put in a lot of interventions to stem criminal activities in this area, and for the past four months we have not been having major crime problems in Ikorodu,” he said.

Mr Tijani, however, acknowledged that isolated incidents could still occur but maintained that the area remained relatively peaceful.

“Even though there will be issues from time to time, Ikorodu is relatively peaceful, and we will continue to collaborate with residents and other security agencies to sustain the peace,” he said.

Mr Tijani also assured residents that the waterways in Ikorodu remained safe, as the police had been working with other security agencies to maintain security on the waterways.

“In collaboration with relevant agencies, our waterways are safe, and we will continue to ensure that residents and commuters use them without fear,” he said.

Addressing market leaders in Ikorodu, Mr Tijani said that the police alone could not secure markets and urged traders to work closely with community-based security outfits.

“The police cannot secure the markets alone. Market leaders must work with community security agencies and other local security structures.

“Our officers will continue to visit the markets from time to time to ensure a safe and secure environment for traders and residents,” he said.

Also speaking, the Obateru of Egbin Kingdom, Ikorodu, Adeoriyomi Oyebo, said that security in Ikorodu had improved considerably in the last five to six months due to enhanced cooperation between traditional rulers, residents and the police.

“We are already collaborating, talking and holding meetings, and if you look at Ikorodu in the last five to six months, you can see that there is improvement compared to what we used to hear about Ikorodu in the past,” Mr Oyebo said.

He commended the police for their efforts in maintaining peace in the area.

“It has improved security-wise, and the policemen are doing very well now, especially under the leadership of my brother, the CP of Lagos State,” the traditional ruler said.

Similarly, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Kabiru Shotobi, described the town hall meeting as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen police-community relations.

“This is not the first time, and it will not be the last. The CP loves Ikorodu so much and has been doing wonderfully well. We appreciate his team and all the DPOs who were carefully selected to come and work with us in Ikorodu. Like I said, the police are our friends,” Mr Shotobi said.

He urged residents to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information.

“We will always cooperate and give them assistance. What we need is information from the community because once they get the information, they can effectively do what they need to do,” Mr Shotobi said. 

(NAN)