Ololade Adeyanju/
In a city where the demands of security are as complex as its pace, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Olaiwola Fatai, on Thursday signalled what appears to be a deliberate shift in policing strategy, one that leans less on force and more on partnership.
At a security stakeholders’ meeting held at the POWA Hall in Ikeja, CP Fatai brought together a cross-section of Lagos society, community leaders, youth representatives, religious figures and security partners, in what officials described as part of activities marking the 2026 National Police Day. But the gathering carried a deeper purpose: to recalibrate how policing is understood and practiced in Nigeria’s largest city.
The Commissioner’s message was direct and unambiguous. “Police work cannot be done by the police alone,” he said. “Every single person is a police officer, whether in mufti or in uniform.”
It was both a statement of philosophy and a strategic appeal, an acknowledgment that the scale and fluidity of Lagos’ security challenges require a broader coalition beyond law enforcement.
CP Fatai identified cultism and electoral violence as immediate concerns, particularly as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of future elections.
“We must address issues like electoral violence as we approach the election period,” he said. “We need to speak to our youths and children, they are often the ones drawn into such acts.”
His remarks underscored a growing concern within security circles: that young people, often on the margins of economic opportunity, are increasingly susceptible to recruitment into violent networks.
To counter this, the Commissioner emphasised intelligence-led policing and the deployment of technology, alongside improved response to distress calls, measures he suggested would enhance both efficiency and public confidence.
The conversation quickly turned to the role of young people in the city’s evolving security landscape.
Adigun Ibrahim, leader of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Lagos, described a troubling pattern of youth involvement in cultism, street gangs, drug abuse and human trafficking.
His prescription was clear: prevention must begin with opportunity.
Engagement, empowerment and employment, he argued, are critical to redirecting vulnerable youths. He also proposed the establishment of a Police Youth Advisory Council, designed to institutionalise dialogue between law enforcement and young people.
Even as the meeting grappled with policy and prevention, it paused for a moment that brought the human cost of policing into sharp relief.
In a quiet ceremony, the Lagos State Police Command presented cheques totalling ₦53,387,209.48 to families of officers who died in the line of duty. The payments, made under the Inspector-General of Police Family Welfare Scheme, were received with visible emotion.
For the families, the funds represent both relief and recognition, a tangible assurance that their loss has not been overlooked.
“The sacrifices of our fallen officers will never be forgotten,” CP Fatai said.
The event, which drew participants from the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the Eminent Persons Forum and various civic groups, reflected an evolving approach to policing, one that seeks legitimacy through engagement rather than enforcement alone.
Apostle Kehinde Sowemimo, chairman of the PCRC in Lagos, captured that sentiment when he urged attendees to rise in appreciation of officers who continue to serve under difficult conditions.
What Thursday’s gathering offered was a framework: that security in Lagos may ultimately depend less on the authority of the police than on the willingness of its citizens to share in that responsibility.
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