The residents in Agiliti Community Development Association (CDA) in Mile 12 axis of Lagos State, have contributed to construct a N15 million Police station in the community
Chairman of the seven joint CDAs in Agiliti, Mr. Haruna Omolajomo, at the foundation laying of the station, emphasised the need for community policing at the grassroots.
He said the issue of security is a collective responsibility of the people and security operatives, adding that the project was initiated through the communal efforts of the seven Agiliti CDAs, namely, Agiliti Central, Agiliti Estate, Oko-Guava, Agility II, Ola-Oluwa, Oshorun and Fountain view.
He said the idea of having a Police Station in Agiliti spanned over 20 years, especially with increasing criminal activities in some parts of Kosofe Local Government despite efforts by relevant security agents to curb the trend.
Omolajomo said since the fracas of Mile 12 crisis of March 3, 2016, it had necessary to have a modern operational Police Station in Agiliti.
“The community has suffered untold hardship, several reprisal attacks and external aggression with loss of life and property. The community had in the past, experienced regular burglary attacks, street cultism, oil bunkering, ritual killing, robbery and snatching of bags.
“Oftentimes, before response from Security teams arrives, the criminals would have escaped. Though as residents, we are not just folding our arms to the security challenges. We have engaged guards and local vigilantes to assist the police, while useful information is being provided.
He maintained that it is only in a secure environment that the desired development could be achieved, while urging the Lagos State government and concerned stakeholders to support the community in ensuring the timely completion of the police station.
The CDA Chairman further noted that the community still lacks some basic social amenities such as a recreational centre, sports arena for the youths, health centre, CDA secretariat and public secondary school, among others.
Omolajomo also commended the State government for the multi-million naira road constructed for the people of Mile 12 and Agiliti, while appealing for the completion of the road.
Earlier, Chairman of Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, Princess Samiat Bada, stressed the need and importance of having a police station situated in the community, noting that insecurity challenges in Nigeria have become a clear and present danger to everyone.
Bada said the security challenge in Ikosi Isheri LCDA, especially Agiliti, is not different from the general national security issues, but noted that the challenge is more localised to cultism, market security, drugs or substance abuse.
In his address, lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency 11, Mr. Femi Saheed, commended residents of the community for donating the land and initiating the project.
He further promised to give the needed support for the Agiliti Police Station project to be actualised. On his part, the state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Bassey Ewah, lauded the initiative, describing it as one of the dividends of the Community Policing advocacy of the Nigeria Police Force.
Odumosu also used the opportunity to solicit for support of Lagosians in giving timely and credible intelligence to all security operatives in the state to enable them effectively prevent and combat crime at the grassroots.
