Israel Ajao, Chairman, Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Agency (LNSA) on Tuesday appealed to residents to take ownership of its operatives to curb crimes in the state.
Ajao, a retired deputy inspector general of police (DIG), made the appeal during the Badagry Stakeholders Interactive Seminar themed: “Neighborhood Safety as a Strategy for Effective Crime Control in Lagos State”.
“I urge you to take the Neighborhood Safety Corps as your personal police. They are not strangers to you. You cannot control crime effectively without the cooperation of the people.
“Since the law states that they must be residents of the community they are being posted to, we will adhere to this to ensure effective community policing because they will know the community better.
“We need your support for free flow of information. If you see something wrong, please do not keep it to yourself because you may be the next victim.
“The police are not magicians; they can’t know criminals without your information. Please have that confidence in the structure that the government had put in place to ensure a crime free society,” he said.
Ajao urged the public to report or call anonymously the toll free lines 112 and 767, assuring that such information would be treated with confidence.
“This information will be processed and immediately given to the police to act on. The Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps has made several arrests and recovered dangerous weapons from criminals without carrying arms,” he said.
The Chairman further cited insurgencies in the North East as example of where civilians were recruited into the Joint Task Force to tackle the menace.
“We don’t need to wait till the situation gets worse, let’s join hands together and say no to crime in the state,” he said.
He further commended the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for his support since the establishment of the agency.
Mrs Aderonke Ogabi, an LNSA Board Member, also commended the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for his support and assured the Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of the agency’s support.
“LNSA deserves respect, support and encouragement to continue in its effective discharge of duty. LNSA has become a vital part of security system in Lagos, hence the support.
“LNSA has been working closely with other security agencies to rid the state of crime. Criminals are being arrested by the Safety Corps and some had been handed over for rehabilitation at various correctional institutions.
“We also ensure peaceful coexistence and respect for one another through timely intervention in crisis. Our corps is very decent and well trained. They always display due diligence to avoid contravention of law,” she said.
