ETIM EFFIONG
The Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government Area, Lagos State, Mr Wasiu Adesina, says the council will employ additional 50 vigilantes to enhance the security network in the area.
Speaking during the council stakeholder’s security meeting on Thursday, Adesina added out of the 50 vigilantes, 20 will be deployed to boost the security of other communities while 30 others will work in with the Nigeria Police to reduce the menace of insecurity.
“The purpose of this urgent meeting is to rub minds together and seek solutions to the rise in violence and insecurity not only in the state but the nation as well.
“It saddens me deeply and of great concern, seeing the resultant loss of lives and property of victims, directly affected by violent attacks.
“More disheartening is the cyber fraud practice perpetrated by many youths. We cannot sit down and fold our hands.
“At this juncture, let me crave the indulgence of all stakeholders in Ikorodu LGA to be more security conscious.
“We are also to provide our vigilance group with the necessary information that may assist them in tracking down criminals,” Adesina said.
Speaking on behalf of the Police, CSP Adekunle Omishakin, urged residents to provide the police with useful information that will aid in tracking criminals and making them face justice.
“If you see something, say something,” he said.
Omisakin, who is also the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Sagamu Road Police Station, appealed to the residents to expose criminals around them and warned those conniving with the outlaws to desist from doing so.
“I want to urge residents of Ikorodu to work together in one spirit to fight crime.
“Motorcycles, popularly called ‘Okada’, if it is stamped out, will reduce crime rate to the barest minimum,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Kehinde Adewuyi, Head, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Ikorodu, said that the use of hard drugs by criminals could not be over-emphasised, noting that the practice must be properly checkmated.
“Most crimes and criminals are mostly attached with drugs. They have to get high before they can operate,” he said.
The traditional ruler of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, advised parents to adequately monitor their wards.
He also advised landlords to do proper findings and profiling of their tenants.
Represented by Chief Kayode Olomo, the Baale of Ojogbe, Shotobi acknowledged that the synergy among all the security agencies had significantly yielded good results.
The council boss in his response appreciated the contributions of all the stakeholders and promised to immediately set up a committee that would look into them for consideration.
Also, the Iyaloja of Ikorodu, Alhaja Taofikat Allynson, said the vulnerability of the markets had prompted her to set up a committee on security, which she said had so far, recorded tremendous results.
“We have seized weapons from cart pushers and handed them over to the police,” she said.
