Mr Fatai Tijani, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, has called for stronger collaboration between the police and residents to tackle crime and other security challenges, particularly in Ikorodu.
Tijani made the call on Thursday at a town hall meeting with personnel of Area N Police Command and other stakeholders in Ikorodu, themed, “Strengthening Community Partnership for a Safer and More Secure Ikorodu”.
He stressed the importance of community participation in policing, saying the police could not effectively secure communities without residents’ support, cooperation and timely information.
“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 them that credible information would be treated appropriately.
He also urged police personnel to maintain professionalism, respect residents’ rights and remain responsive to community concerns.
The Commissioner said the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen police-community relations and provide stakeholders with an avenue to discuss security concerns affecting Ikorodu.
Also speaking, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu Kingdom, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, urged residents to support security agencies with credible information and remain vigilant.
Shotobi warned against spreading unverified information, describing fake news as a threat to peace and security. He urged residents to verify information before sharing it.
He also called on parents and community leaders to monitor youths and guide them away from crime and other activities capable of threatening peace.
The traditional ruler commended the Lagos State Police Command for engaging stakeholders and urged participants to translate the discussions into concrete actions for a safer Ikorodu.
The stakeholders raised concerns about security in the area, while Tijani assured them that the command would look into the issues and work towards addressing them.
