Police call for community partnership against cultism, electoral violence in Lagos

Fatai Tijani, the commissioner of police of Lagos State, has urged community, traditional, and youth leaders to work more closely with the police to combat cultism, election violence, and other social vices throughout the state.

The CP made the request during a stakeholders’ security conference held as part of festivities commemorating this year’s National Police Week, emphasising the importance of a collaborative approach to addressing mounting security problems.

“We need your collaboration to combat cultism in our society. We must also address issues like electoral violence as we approach the election period. We need to speak to our youths and children because they are often the ones drawn into such acts. Families and community leaders must educate young people about its dangers and consequences,” he said.

Tijani emphasised that maintaining security is a shared responsibility, noting that law enforcement alone cannot effectively tackle the challenges without public support.

“This cannot be done by the police alone. Every single person is a police officer, whether in mufti or in uniform. The only difference is the uniform we wear. Beyond that, we are all the same because no one wants insecurity in the environment,” he added.

Also speaking, the representative of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Lagos Chapter, Adigun Ibrahim, highlighted the growing impact of cultism, hooliganism, drug abuse, and human trafficking on young people in the state.

He advocated increased youth engagement, empowerment, and employment opportunities as effective measures to curb these challenges, while also proposing the establishment of a police youth advisory council across the state.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Apostle Kehinde Showemim, commended officers of the Lagos State Command for their dedication and commitment to duty.