Area M Commander, ACP Ajeigbe Hosts Police CP, Stakeholders Ahead Rumoured Protest
The Area Commander of Area M Police Command, Idimu in Lagos State, ACP Olayinka Ajeigbe on Wednesday played host to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade and other stakeholders to discuss the state of security in the state ahead of a rumoured protest in August.
Some of the stakeholders who attended the event include traditional rulers, political leaders, members of transport workers union, business owners, religious leaders, youth council members, market women association amongst others.
While speaking at the auspicious event, CP Fayoade emphasized that while the constitution guarantees the right to protest, unguarded protests have a high rate of being hijacked by hoodlums who seize the opportunity to unleash violence, robbery, chaos, arson and other heinous crimes leading to disturbance of public peace and break down of law and order.
“We want Lagos to remain safe and secure. We have to talk to residents. They deserve a secure environment to eke living. Faceless elements should not be allowed to disrupt the peace.
“Lagos is unarguably the commercial nerve of the nation. Everyone should be able to live peacefully and grow their businesses. That will help to grow the economy,” he noted.
Reasuring the residents, he said, “There’s no need for public panic. The police are up to task and on top of their game. We are going to be everywhere to ensure that nobody is molested or disturbed from doing their business.”
He added that not only Nigeria but the whole world faces various economic challenges following global events like COVID-19, Ukraine Russia war as well as the climate change and these events have thrown up daunting challenges.
The Police CP noted that during the NLC strike, because those behind identified themselves and were known to police, they were given police protection and it wasn’t hijacked. Same happened with other protests but the rumoured one for August have potentials to escalate into chaos.
In the same vein, AC Ajeigbe noted that the proposed protest slated for August 1 has no known face behind it and as such would not be tolerated to avoid a repeat of the End Sars crisis the negative result of which the state is yet to recover.
He pleaded that, long before now, on the instructions of CP Fayoade, the command has always engage stakeholders in periodic dialogues to sustain a public friendly policing system which has aided in fostering peace within the area, and that stakeholders have gathered to do same.
“That’s why the CP was here today to continue that tradition of engaging community members and leaders of society directly, in furtherance of the culture of liaising for community oriented policing. He has assured them of adequate security.
“We are talking to people. We don’t want violence in the state. People should work with police to avoid violence and destruction. Organisers may have good intentions but it could be hijacked,” he stated.
He urged leaders to talk to their wards to maintain peace and never allow themselves be used by criminal elements.
Rating the efforts of police in the state, he said, “Policing in my area is fantastic. Lagos is well secured.Police are working and Lagos is one of the safest places in the nation. For 3 months, no serious crime in Alimosho. Cooperation with community helped that. We have managed the trouble makers well:
“The way to improve economy remains to ensure 24 hours business and trading just as being done in other global cities like New York, Dubai and London. And as more businesses thrive, Lagos and Nigeria will develop even more,” he concluded.
Prince Idris Balogun, the Oluomo of Isheri Olofin and an aide to the Senate President who is also a community leader in Alimosho recounted how he and others within the community had to rally round and prevent hoodlums from causing grievous damage and destruction during the Endsars protest.
Balogun noted that the gathering was to enlighten people against the proposed protest For August 1, counselling that people should desist. He said the President and his administration are working hard and things will soon stabilise.
He urged traditional rulers to engage youth and subjects to be ambassadors for peace and development. He urged the people to remain calm.
Area M PCRC Acting Chairman, Alhaji Muftau Adebayo reiterated the pivotal role of community engagement in fostering peace and security, adding that people should educate others in their communities to embrace dialogue.
He said the PCRC has been supporting and collaborating with the police across the almost 150 police divisions in the state
to assure and maintain a safe environment for the people.
Traditional Rulers and other community leaders who also took turns to speak at the event urged Lagos residents to allow criminal elements disrupt the peace that Lagos is known for and should continue to engage in their lawful source of livelihoods.
