By Gbenga Dada
The Nigeria Police Tactical Commander, Area M, Ijegun Annex, SP Aduroja Akinola, has urged youths intending to protest to embrace constructive dialogue, warning that protest might be hijacked by hoodlums.
Akinola gave this advice during a synergy and relationship with the Ijegun- Ifesowapo Community Development Association (CDA), Ijegun, a suburb in Lagos State.
“We don’t want violence and casualties. We don’t want loss of life. We have good people that we care for, therefore we should focus on how the youths will develop our country and our future,” he said.
According to him, protest is a means of communicating to whoever is in the position of authority and there is a way to express displeasure rightfully and peacefully.
“But those to steal, rape and destroy properties, are also among them. I want to urge parents to go back home and talk to their children. My coming is also to identify the prevailing crimes in the area affecting development and breakdown of law.
“We are also here to communicate the achievement under review on how we have been able to combat crime, armed robbery, kidnapping, and violent crimes within the community,” he said.
Akinola said that they were all leaders, adding that they should propagate new trends of crimes and their breakthrough into their community to have a peaceful environment.
Highlighting some roles of community leaders in combating crimes, Akinola said some criminal vices were identical within the community such as armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, internet fraudster, pipeline vandals, and secret cults among others.
He said that light illumination like the provision of solar lights, street lights, and CCTV cameras also played an important role in community security.
“Security is everybody’s business therefore, we need to understand various crimes within our locality.
“Note that armed robbery, kidnapping, internet fraudsters, rapists, pipeline vandals, secret cults, child trafficking, and commercial sex workers among others are vices that criminals perpetrate,” he said.
Akinola urged them to reduce late-night movements and also monitor their children’s movements.
