By Deborah Akpede/ Oluwaseun Nubi
Mr Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Lagos State, has called for stronger collaboration between the police and residents to tackle crime and other security challenges across the state, particularly in Ikorodu.
Tijani made the call on Thursday at a town hall 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 there was the need for collaboration to tackle crime and other security challenges, particularly in Ikorodu area of the state.
The CP stressed the importance of community participation in policing, saying that the police could not effectively secure communities without the support, cooperation and timely information from residents.
“We encourage stakeholders, particularly community leaders, parents, youths and other residents, to work closely with the police to address emerging security challenges before they escalate.
“Security is a collective responsibility and requires all stakeholders to play their respective roles in creating a peaceful and safe environment,” he said.
Tijani urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the police, assuring that credible information would be treated appropriately.
He also called on police personnel to maintain professionalism, respect the rights of residents and remain responsive to the concerns of the communities they serve.
Tijani said that the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen police-community relations and provide stakeholders with an avenue to discuss security concerns affecting Ikorodu.
He assured residents that the command remained committed to protecting lives and property, preventing crime and maintaining law and order across the state.
The police boss urged residents to continue supporting the police with credible information, as strong collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities was crucial to achieving sustainable security.
Also speaking, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, urged residents to support the police and other security agencies with credible information to strengthen security and sustain peace in the community.
Shotobi stressed the importance of community participation in addressing security challenges and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He said that effective security required cooperation among residents, traditional institutions, government and security agencies, noting that no single institution could tackle security challenges alone.
The traditional leader also warned residents against spreading unverified information, describing fake news as a threat to peace and security.
He urged residents to verify information before sharing it, noting that false information could create unnecessary tension and undermine the efforts of the security agencies.
Shotobi further called on parents and community leaders to pay close attention to the activities of youths, guide them away from crime and other acts capable of threatening peace in the community.
He commended the Police Command in Lagos State for engaging stakeholders through the town hall meeting, describing such engagements as important in building trust and strengthening police-community relations.
Shotobi urged participants to translate the discussions into concrete actions that would contribute to a safer and more secure Ikorodu.
The stakeholders commended CP Tijani for his efforts in combating crime in the area and raised some concerns, while Tijani assured them that the command would look into the issues and work towards addressing their needs. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Florence Onuegbu