LNSA CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF SECURING LAGOS NEIGHBOURHOOD
…Solicits Continuous Support Of Residents
Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency has attributed the relative peace enjoyed by residents of the State in the last one year to the complementary roles played by its officials in maintaining peace and orderliness at the grassroots and across the State just as it appealed to residents of the State to continuously provide useful information to its officers.
Briefing stakeholders at the first anniversary of the Agency in Lagos, the Chairman, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Agency, DIG Israel Ajao (Rtd) said the state of security in Lagos can be attributed to Government investment and the establishment of the LNSA, acquisition of modern security kits and equipment, as well as employment of thousands of youths.
According to him, the agency had successfully filed 120 cases, secured 15 convictions and recorded five casualties in the last 12 months in addition to supporting the various security agencies in curbing criminal activities across the State.
Ajao stated that LNSA also played a major role in putting a stop to Badoo cult operations through the arrest of a member that eventually led to the arrest of the sponsors of the notorious killer group.
He noted that the huge investments in security by the government had not gone down without impacts, rather it had ensured a safer and secure Lagos with the help of the residents and the collaboration with police in protecting the people.
While highlighting the most prevalent crimes in the State, Ajao said the Board members of the Agency intend having regular sessions with members of Community Development Committees and Associations, including education administrators to curb the menace of cultism, drug abuse among youths.
The Chairman who appealed to residents for support urged Lagosians to call Government distress lines (112,767) whenever there is a breach of security anywhere in the State.
“It is crystal clear that the Governor has adopted a multi-layer approach towards addressing security challenges through adequate support and funding of security agencies and establishment of LNSC. The ball is now in the court of residents to be security conscious and provide useful information to appropriate security agencies”, he said.
In his contribution, the Head of Law Enforcement Training Institute, LETI, Prince Adewale Taorid Ojora described the establishment of LNSA as a milestone in the history of Lagos being the first State agency that specifically looks after the well-being of its citizenry.
While noting that in the last one year the Agency had performed creditably well in the discharge of its statutory roles, Ojora added that the establishment Agency is also a plus to Governor Ambode for embracing the vision of setting up the neighbourhood Agency which had now become a model for community policing across the country.
He said, “It is evident to all that the officials of the agency are working assiduously to secure the entire metropolis. Efforts of these officials led to the identification of hide-outs of notorious cult groups in Ikorodu with the residents of the area now sleeping with their two eyes closed. This is in addition to the exposure of cults in different secondary schools and several other criminal hideouts across the State”.