Youths partner security agencies to curb crime in Lagos community
The Progressive Youths Association (PYA) in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in conjunction with National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has pledged to partner with security agencies to tackle security challenges in the area.
Mr Anuoluwapo Taiwo, the President, PYA, disclosed this on Monday at the maiden edition of Youths Security Summit, held at Isawo area of Ikorodu.
The community leaders, as well as representatives of the police, army, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services (DSS) and Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) were present at the meeting.
Taiwo said that Isawo community was regarded as a volatile area known for oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and cultism.
“This association has found it important to collaborate with security agencies in curbing crime.
“Apart from that, we also sensitise youths to the effect of using hard drugs.
“Recently, there had been incidents of attack and cult killings among youths in the community.
“But with this kind of programme, we can change the narrative and re-orientate them,” Taiwo said.
He advised youths to shun criminality and use of hard drugs in order to be better citizens and be committed to the development of their community and the country at large.
Also at the summit, the Secretary, Ikorodu West Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr Sunday Abiodun, said the summit was taking place to make the residents more security conscious of the environment.
Abiodun thanked the security agencies for their efforts in curtailing crime and their quick response on distress calls, but urged them to do more in checking cult activities in the community.
He also commended the effort of the Lagos State House of Assembly over the passage of the cultism bill, noting that it would go a long way in curbing such activities in the state.
According to him, the proactive process in screening and creation of data base for both landlords and tenants in the past has helped in reducing crime, and is in tandem with the state cultism bill.
“Precedence has led us to know that the community is perceived as a hideout for criminals which are mostly youths, and we want to change the narrative.
“PYA has done a tremendous job by trying to change the orientation and criminal mindsets of their colleagues.
“The CDC has promised to support youths with innovation and positive ideas so that when others see them grow, it may change their orientation,” he said.
One of the participants, Mr Fasasi Apanisile, called on the security agencies to protect anybody who disseminates useful information to them in carrying out their operations.
Apanisile called on the NDLEA to be proactive in fighting the sale of cannabis sativa (India hemp), noting that peddlers of such substance were mostly found in the shanties.
He urged law enforcement agencies to engage in continuous raids and effect arrest of drug peddlers around the shanties to dislodge them totally from the community.
“The sales of hard drugs have been going on unabated, which is a strong stimulant for committing crime.
“If the issue of hard drugs is addressed from the grassroots level, it will go a long way in reducing the crime rate in the state,” he said.
