Ikorodu killings: Nigerians have lost trust in police — CP

7 years ago

Ikorodu killings: Nigerians have lost trust in police — CP

Lagos—Apparently worried over the continued invasion of Lagos and Ogun community by unknown gunmen, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni said residents have lost trust in the country’s police formation.

Owoseni expressed his concern at the at the City Hall, Lagos, venue of the 2016 Stakeholders Forum organised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District (CBD) themed: ”Toward a Lagos Island CBD Renaissance: Meaningful Insights and Commitment,” yesterday.

The police commissioner, who was represented by Chief Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Ajamolaya, the Divisional Police Officer of Victoria Island, lamented that Nigerians do not have trust in the police recognized by the 1999 constitution.

Owoseni who was one of the discussant at the security session which also include the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Mr. Abdul-Rasak Balogun, General Manager of AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Moruf Apampa, Barrister Kayode Adeluola, Chief Executive Officer of Integrated System and Devices Ltd, Mr. Oluseun Mabogunje and moderated by the former secretary of LSSTF, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey.

According to him, “The major problem we have now is for the citizens to have trust in us; they do not trust the police they have. They believe that if they give information to the police, they will sell out. And due to this, the maximum cooperation we should get from the citizens is lacking.

“We believe that larger percent of the reasons acclaimed by the residents were stereotype. The Nigerian police are evolving daily. We want you to have faith in us and I believe that we will not disappoint you,” Owoseni added.

He argued that when information are divulged earlier, it would aid crime prevention, noting “crime prevention is the key to achieving a safe and secured society. If we are able to achieve that, other aspect of policing is secondary. This is because we will be proactive and not reactive.

Owoseni said the level of insecurity in the country demanded that “everyone must be alert; that is why we are promoting community policing. Nigerians Police is not effective; we work day and night to ensure that the state is safe.

“Policing Lagos is a big task especially as it concerns the population, the mode of crime committed and the unemployment rate in the state. That is why we have adopted to proactive and not the reactive strategy,” he said.

Ambode commends foreign, local investors

Meantime, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the same forum said that the activities of both local and foreign investors in the state are key indicators that would trigger economic growth and enhance the emerging opportunities in the socio-economic landscape of the state.

The governor also commended the enthusiasm of investors and entrepreneurs to put their money in good investments in the state.

He added that the present administration is also providing more opportunities to investors and entrepreneurs in the emerging economic profile of the Lagos Mega City in the various sectors of real estate development, marine transportation, commercial and business activities.

Ambode, who was represented at the Forum by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello, said the focus of his administration since inception has been to put in place necessary structures that would sustain a 24/7 economy in the “New Lagos”, adding that despite the global economic challenges, “we have ensured that the business districts functioned effectively to move the wheel of economic growth in the Lagos Mega City,” he said.