Lagos – A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Spaces for Youth Development and Social Change (SAC), on Friday in Lagos called for the establishment of community police and empowerment of local vigilance groups.
The Executive Director of SAC, Mrs Victoria Ohaeri, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that community police would offer solution to the rising rate of violence.
She said the violence had affected business and livelihood of youths in the state.
Ohaeri said all stakeholders had signed an agreement to synergise with the Lagos State Government, local governments, federal agencies and the communities to curtail insecurity and violence.
“Today, we have signed an agreement and every institution represented here has agreed to work together.
“When I say institution, I mean the Okada Riders Association, vigilance groups, the traditional rulers, the NURTW and others.
“With this agreement, we will now have the privilege to invite government to work in synergy with us,’’ she said.
The SAC executive director said the NGO was now going to introduce some initiatives to attract those who were idle and prone to being engaged in violence.
“People move closer to the vigilance group than the Police. So, we got enough evidence and immediately engage the government and demanded for a community police,’’ she said.
Mr Olusola Awe, an Assistant Commander, Administration, Vigilante Group Nigeria (VGN), Lagos Command, urged government to empower the group for efficiency in discharging their duties.
“The excesses of the miscreants endanger people’s lives and so the community is calling on the government to provide local police for the safety of lives and property.
“If vigilantes are empowered and with instruments, they will discharge their jobs efficiently and reduce insecurity to the barest minimum,’’ Awe said.
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The Baale of Okobaba in Ebute-Meta, Chief Musibau Jinadu, also reiterated the use of effective community police and the local vigilance group to curb insecurity.
Jinadu urged community members to help in giving information about miscreants living within the community to the police, community leaders and vigilance groups for quick action.
“People should try as much as possible to reach out to any security agent as soon as they suspect nefarious actions or any activity suspected to be organised by miscreants,’’ he said.(NAN)
