Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps Seeks Public Support

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Board Chairman of Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, DIG Israel Ajao (Rtd) has asserted that the success of the organisation is dependent on credible intelligence-information sharing between Lagosians, the Police and LNSC.

Mr Ajao made this known recently while delivering a paper at a symposium organised by Lagos State University, LASU, Directorate of Advancement (LASUDA) with the topic: Our security; Harnessing government’s role.

He said that presently there exists strong synergy between LNSC and the State Police Command such that intelligence procured by the Corps is shared with the Police for covert operations, while Corps Officers embark on joint patrols with the Police and other Security Agencies for crime prevention and detection duties.

The Chairman added that the Corps officers have been trained in the art of beat patrols, mediation in disputes and ensuring harmony in the neighbourhood in addition to regular advocacy and interactive sessions with relevant stakeholders so as to entrench the tenets of Community Policing in the neighbourhood.

He disclosed that the concept of the Corps is intertwined with the main characteristics of community policing all over the world and thrives on participation by the people, representation, accountability and high visibility policing.

Mr Ajao noted that “The security agencies are not the cause of crime but part of the solution and they can only succeed if residents assist with information. Criminals are not ghosts; they are people who live with us in the neighbourhood.”

“The adage if you see something, say something” is most relevant at this period of serious challenges in our nation”, the Board Chairman stated.

According to him, the Board had convened several interactive sessions with members of the Community Development Committees and Associations to ensure grassroots participation and acceptability of the Corps.

He informed that the present administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the security of lives and property of every resident of the State through the adoption of a multilayer approach to security challenges and regular funding of Security outfits across the State.

Mr Ajao commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for harnessing the vast human, social, political and economic potentials available in Lagos State to improve the security of lives and property of all residents.