The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun States, with headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, AIG Adegoke Fayoade, has asserted that the security of Nigeria is a task of all and not the police alone.
The AIG stated this in a goodwill message at the 2024 annual lecture/award ceremony of the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria.
The ceremony featured a lecture, titled: “Justice System Administration and Insecurity In Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions.”
Fayoade called for the collaboration of all and sundry in crime fighting and prevention to make the country a safer place to live.
The AIG lamented the reluctance of complainants in following up their cases to the prosecution level, adding that this adversely affects the justice system.
He noted that such cases, when charged to court, are often struck out for lack of diligent prosecution and evidence.
He said: “It is very important that we talk about the justice system as it affects the country.
“If our justice system is not effective enough, we will not have rapid socio-economic development.
“The justice system needs the efforts of everyone.
“It is not just for the justice department alone.
“It requires the input of everyone.
“Not the police alone or the justice department alone.
“Every individual has a role to play.
“There is a need to collaborate with the police.”
AIG Fayoade explained that collaboration could come through giving the police credible information, supporting the police with credible intelligence and logistics to operate effectively.
He added: “How do you collaborate?
“You collaborate by giving the police credible information.
“By giving credible intelligence to police for effective operations.
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“Other areas of collaboration include providing us with necessary logistics to carry out our operations effectively.
“Members of the public on their own and on the other hand should also ensure that when there are cases in court, they should ensure a follow-up.
“When cases are brought to court, most of the complainants are reluctant and at the end of the day, they will say they are no longer interested in the court case.
“Our people should develop the idea of following up their cases in court because if a case is brought to court and there is nobody to follow-up, at the end of the day, the matter will be struck off.”
Fayoade called on police officers handling cases to weigh in on the matters and see, as much as possible, how parties could amicably settle cases that are not too serious.
He added: “I will also want to advise our officers that some of the cases that require to be settled, like landlord and tenant issues brought to us, officers should take time and resolve such between the parties.
“Technologies will also make our justice system better.”
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