Lagos: Commissioner of Police tasks residents on community policing

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Olayiwola Fatai, has urged residents across the state to move beyond relying solely on the government and security agencies for protection, saying sustainable security can only be achieved when communities actively participate in preventing crime.

Fatai made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by Area ‘E’ Command of the Nigeria Police Force, where he stressed that the fight against crime must be transformed into a collective responsibility involving residents, traditional institutions, youths, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and other grassroots stakeholders.

The Commissioner acknowledged the efforts of the Lagos State Government and security agencies in strengthening public safety, but warned that such interventions could not produce lasting results without the cooperation and vigilance of residents.

According to him, the changing nature of communities and emerging security challenges require residents to become active partners with the police rather than remaining passive beneficiaries of security services.

“A safer Lagos must be built through a conscious and collective effort, with residents playing their part in making their communities less vulnerable to crime and disorder,” Fatai said.

He noted that residents were often the first to notice unusual movements, suspicious persons or emerging threats within their neighbourhoods, making their cooperation crucial to early detection and prevention of criminal activities.

The CP, therefore, encouraged communities to strengthen communication with the police and promptly report suspicious activities rather than waiting until criminal incidents escalate.

He said community participation would also deepen trust between residents and security agencies, allowing the police to better understand the peculiar security challenges confronting different neighbourhoods.

Fatai’s position was supported by the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Prince Lanre Sanusi, who said security, safety and community welfare could no longer be treated as responsibilities belonging exclusively to government.

Sanusi said the growing population and changing character of neighbourhoods had placed additional demands on security agencies, making active participation by residents indispensable.

He urged youths, traditional rulers, CDAs and other community leaders to take ownership of security initiatives within their areas.

The council chairman argued that communities where residents remain vigilant, communicate effectively with security agencies and cooperate with one another are better positioned to prevent crime.

He said security should become part of everyday civic responsibility, with residents understanding that protecting their neighbourhoods is not merely the job of uniformed personnel.

The stakeholders’ meeting consequently provided an opportunity for the police, local government authorities and community representatives to strengthen cooperation around neighbourhood security.

The emerging consensus was that policing alone cannot guarantee lasting peace in a densely populated and rapidly developing city such as Lagos.

For many residents, the message represents a shift from the traditional expectation that security agencies must single-handedly identify and confront every threat.

Instead, the stakeholders emphasised a partnership model in which residents provide timely information, community leaders mobilise local support, government provides the necessary infrastructure and security agencies respond professionally to emerging threats.

The approach also places greater responsibility on communities to address factors that could make neighbourhoods vulnerable to crime, including abandoned properties, poor lighting, disorderly environments and inadequate communication among residents.

Fatai maintained that the police remained committed to protecting lives and property but needed the confidence and cooperation of the people to perform effectively.

He urged residents not to treat security as an issue to be discussed only after an incident had occurred, but as a continuous community responsibility.

Sanusi similarly called for stronger collaboration among local authorities, security agencies and residents, stressing that the benefits of a safe environment extend beyond crime prevention to economic development, social stability and improved quality of life.

The stakeholders’ position underscores the growing importance of community policing in Lagos, where neighbourhoods vary widely in population, economic activity and security challenges.

The message from the meeting was clear: government can provide security institutions, personnel and resources, but residents must help make their communities difficult environments for criminals to operate.