Stakeholders seek improved community relations with security agencies

Stakeholders in the security sector have identified robust community relations with security agencies as one of the ways to improve security in the country.

They spoke at a summit organised by the Institute of Criminology and Strategic Studies (ICSS), in conjunction with the Lagos State University (LASU), in Lagos.

The summit, titled ‘A Day National Security Summit (2024 Democracy Day Edition)’ was attended by personnel of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS).

Leading discussions on ‘National Agenda: Law Enforcement Technology and Community Engagement’, Prof. Omololu Soyombo urged security agencies, especially the police, to show more empathy with the communities where they operate.

He extolled the Nigerian Police Force for new zeal and efforts being put into safeguarding life and property.
The lead speaker also stressed the need for the government and security agencies to improve on the types of technology used in battling crimes.

Soyombo, who is a professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, urged the government to focus on producing its own security gadgets, instead of importing them from overseas.
He noted that this attitude puts the nation at risk because its national activities could be spied on by foreign countries.

He said: “The police need to reach out more to people in the community. They need to have programmes and activities that will endear them to the people. This will make it a lot easier to build trust between the community and the police.”

The Registrar General of ICSS, Adekunle Aderemi, explained that the aim of the summit was to help improve national security through community engagement.

He also assured the media that all hands will be on deck to ensure more community engagement in the security sector.
Also, spokesperson for Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stressed the need for more synergy between the people and the police.

He said although the synergy is not as vibrant as it ought to be, it keeps getting better, and the police are not relenting.
He also commended the Inspector General of Police for increasing the numbers of new intakes from 10,000 yearly to 30,000.

Furthermore, he urged citizens to trust the police more, saying officers are out to work for the people.