By; Raymond Tedunjaye, Lagos.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has been applauded by some eminent persons in Lagos, over the introduction of Eminent Personalities Forum committee, as part of his community policing approach to tackle crime and criminality in the society.
The eminent persons, which include the Mai- Kanuribe of Lagos and Seriki Hausawa of Ojora Kingdom, Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed, the Baale of Ebute-Iganmu, Alhaji Aliu Ojora and a chieftain of the All Peoples Congress (APC), Prince Kayode Badia, asserted that the formation of the committee would avail members and other reasonable individuals a sense of belonging in contributing their quota immensely to the prevention of crime in the society.
According to the speakers, which include the Secretary, Community Development Committee (CDC), Apapa-Iganmu LCDA chapter, Prince Kehinde Omonisi, chairman Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Badia Division, Alhaji Abonilekoju and the Assistant General Manager of Sifax Group, the initiative would enable eminent personalities fashion out ideas that could assist the police in performing their duties and record huge success.
The community leaders who spoke at the inauguration ceremony of the Eminent Personalities Forum, Badia Division chapter, pledged total support and promised to mobilise the support and cooperation of residents of their various communities to the attainment of the IGP’s aspiration.
Speaking at the occasion, Alhaji Mustapha said the initiative by the Acting IGP further alluded to his wealth of experience and ideas in tackling crime and criminality from the community policing perspective.
He maintained that the EPF would further compliment the efforts of all the existing committees that have been assisting the police in the task of ensuring a crime free society.
The traditional leader, who was appointed the chairman of EPF of the division, said he would continue to strive more than ever before, in his new capacity to support the police and ensure that the area is rid of bad elements.
Mustapha noted that the task of adequate security of lives and property is not the sole responsibility of the police, adding that the police can not succeed without the support and cooperation of the residents.
“We live in the community and live with the people, we are the ones that can identify the criminals because they live with us. Majority of the police officers working here live in other places, they can hardly know who is who except we the residents give them information about happenings in the communities. They can’t succeed unless we give them maximum support and cooperation”, the traditional leader submitted.
In his acceptance speech, Mustapha assured that his committee is going to synergize with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the objective of initiating the idea was achieved.
In his contribution, an APC chieftain, Prince Kayode Badia commended the idea of the acting IGP by bringing the police closer to the people by directing both the Commissioners and Divisional Police Officers to replicate the formation of the EPF in their jurisdictions.
Badia, who was appointed vice chairman of the committee, traced the efforts of the leaders in tackling crime in the community, adding that the formation of the committee will invigorate members to double their efforts.
Secretary of the committee, Prince Kehinde Omonisi, who is also the scribe of the CDC Apapa-Iganmu LCDA chapter, in his speech stressed that the acting IGP has taken community policing to the next level by bringing eminent persons closer to the police through the formation of the committee.
He promised to put in his best by improving on past efforts to ensure that Badia and its environ remain a no go area for criminals.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Sole Administrator of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area, Mr. Olumide Olusola commended the acting IGP for his various initiatives in tackling crime and criminality, adding that it is an indication that crime can be reduced to its barest minimum.
Represented by the council’s principal admin officer, Mrs. Tanwa Olusesi Adetola, the council boss pledged the continued support and cooperation of his administration to the police in the task of ensuring a crime free society.
He also commended the DPO of Badia division, Supol Kayode Ayeni, saying he is a dynamic police officer, who is swift in responding to distress calls, adding that he had recorded great achievement in tackling crime and criminality since his assumption of office.
In a welcome address earlier, Supol Ayeni explained that the inauguration of the committee was based on the acting IGP’s directive that it should be replicated in all the divisions and Area Commands, with a view to involve eminent persons in the task of combating crime.
