The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, Ayodeji Ogundele, has urged members of farming communities to collaborate with the police and other agencies on security.

Mr Ogundele made the call when members of the Agbekoya Society of Nigeria paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday at his office.

The president-general of the farmers’ security association, Kamorudeen Okikiola, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos.

Mr Ogundele said that farming communities must have confidence and trust in the police and play their roles in ensuring security in their various localities.

He said that the police had established effective channels through which farmers with complaints or in need of help could reach the force.

According to Mr Ogundele, the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) can be reached online within seconds, while Provost Offices, SERVICOM, X-Squad, and police public relations officers are available in all police formations.

Responding, Mr Okikiola said that the purpose of the courtesy visit was to welcome the new AIG to the South-West and to work together.

The president-general said that the visit was also to find solutions and resolve the problem of insecurity, especially in farm settlements.

According to him, the visit is also part of efforts to engage stakeholders on security in the South-West to boost the economy.

He said that the step was also to ensure effective community policing in the region in order to boost food production.

Mr Okikiola said: “The visit aimed to promote partnership between the police and citizens, as well as to represent the voices of farmers’ communities affected by insecurity.

“It is to also advocate justice for the poor farmers and most vulnerable.

“There is the need for a strong synergy with the police to encourage community intelligence watch and community intelligence gathering to facilitate police service delivery.”

He was accompanied by some of the association’s executive members, including the national secretary, Dr Adegbenro Ogunlana, the national treasurer, Ajibola Salawu, and the director of media and publicity, Wahab Akinlade, among others.

(NAN)