Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Gani Adams, has assured the police of his support in strengthening the security architecture in the Southwest geo-political zone.
Adams also pledged to consolidate on the confidence reposed in him by state governors in the Southwest and the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Adams, who spoke during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, at the weekend, commended the force for extending a hand of fellowship to the Oodua Peoples Congress, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group under his watch.
He noted that the partnership between the police and OPC was beginning to yield positive results, with other relevant groups coming on board as partners in progress.
Adams said he had received the nod of the Inspector General of Police on security matters within the Southwest axis, adding that efforts were underway to map out effective security modalities to fight insecurity in the states.
Part of the efforts, Adams said, was the convocation of the Southwest Security Stakeholders’ Group (SSSG), a meeting comprising all relevant security groups across the southwest and the unveiling of a roadmap towards achieving set objectives.
Adams said: “So far, we have made significant progress since the IGP had expressed the readiness of the police to work with OPC under my leadership. It is on this note that I said OPC and the Nigeria Police are partners in progress. We have started work in earnest and everybody can attest to the fact that our efforts are beginning to yield positive results.
“It is obvious that the rate of insecurity in the Southwest has reduced tremendously in the past few weeks. We have set the pace and the signs are there for everybody to see that we are ready to secure the Southwest and make the region safe for Nigerians.”
In his response, Muazu noted that the foundation laid by his predecessors had helped in working out a synergy between the police and the people at the grassroots.
The Lagos police boss said: “In recent times, the spate of insecurity has taken the center stage across the country. However, I want to assure you that we are committed to providing the best security to Lagosians. We are committed to making the state safe for residents, and in doing our job, we are ready to partner with individuals or groups that can help the police curb the spate of insecurity in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
”We all know that information dissemination is key at all times, and the police are in the best position to dissect the information gathered. So, I think Gani Adams’ visit is timely and a sign that things are taking good shape in the country.”