Speaking during the engagement with PCRC today , at the Officers mess in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ojajuni, said the meeting was part of a nationwide directive aimed at strengthening collaboration between the police and host communities.
According to him, the Inspector-General of Police directed all Commissioners of Police across the federation to embark on sustained community engagements with key stakeholders to enhance security operations and public trust.
“We are here to engage with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to appreciate their immense contributions to nation-building and to the Nigeria Police Force, especially in areas of information sharing, intelligence gathering, and support over the years,” Ojajuni said.
He noted that recent successes recorded by the Ogun State Command in the fight against crime were not achieved in isolation but through the collective efforts of stakeholders, including the PCRC, technical support from the Force Headquarters, and the backing of the Ogun State Government.
The police chief emphasised that effective leadership, renewed tactical operations, and stakeholder collaboration had strengthened the command’s capacity to combat criminality, stressing that the police remain servants of the people.
“We are at the service of the masses. The citizens are our bosses, and that understanding has continued to guide our operations and achievements,” he added.
Also speaking, the PCRC, newly elected State Chairman, Abdullahi Babatunde Lawal, described the engagement as timely and encouraging, noting that community policing was yielding tangible results in Ogun State.
Lawal said members of the PCRC from across the state were fully mobilized and committed to working with the police to ensure residents could “sleep with both eyes closed” through effective community policing strategies.
He assured the public that information shared with security agencies would continue to be carefully screened and targeted at reducing crime and criminality to the barest minimum.
“Our focus is not just information, but credible and actionable intelligence that will help the police combat crime. PCRC has no hidden agenda; our mandate is to support community safety through neighborhood watch and structured community support,” Lawal stated.
He further cited past successes, including rescue operations achieved through community policing, as evidence that sustained collaboration between the police and the community would significantly reduce crime across Ogun State.
