Ololade Adeyanju/
As the clamour for the adoption of community policing becomes more popular among Nigerians, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos police command is already harnessing the benefits of this policing model.
The RRS, under the command of DCP Tunji Disu, has adopted an approach which involves direct partnership with local communities in order to enhance the intelligence network of the squad.
NewsmakersNG learnt that the squad took its first practical steps in the adoption of these approach yesterday by dispatching its officers to Oworonshoki and Bariga areas of the Lagos Mainland to engage in one-on-one interaction with community leaders and random residents.
The basic aims of the engagement, according to the squad, is to enable its men understand how to better police the communities from the perspective of the residents; to know their peculiar security challenges and to boost the confidence of the residents in the police.
Tweeting about the development yesterday on its handle, @rrslagos767, the squad wrote: “RRS Officers combed the streets of Oworonshoki/Bariga today to talk to residents in the area and boost their confidence in the Police. Some black spots were identified by our men and efforts will be made to rid them of criminal elements.”
Expectedly, both Lagos residents and non-residents, who reacted to the tweet, welcomed the initiative and praised the leadership of the RRS for constantly evolving novel strategies to fight crime.
Some have also requested the RRS to carry out a similar exercise in their neighbourhoods, while others sent the names and locations of identifiable black spots in their areas, in a bid to aid the work of the squad.
Below are few of the reactions to the tweet by the RRS:
