CDC ,Ikorodu Youth partners security agencies to curb crime- The president,Progressive Youths Association (PYA), Mr Anuoluwapo Taiwo, in conjunction with National youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN) says the association would collaborate with security agencies to tackle security challenges in the area.
Taiwo disclosed this during the Maiden Edition of youths security summit on Sunday at Isawo, Oke oko area of Ikorodu Lagos.
Community leaders, the police, Army, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Civil Defence and Department of State Services (DSS), Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) were present at the meeting.
According to him, the community is regarded as a volatile area known for oil bunkering, pipeline vandalisation and cultism which has been rampant recently.
“This association has found it important to collaborate with security agencies in curbing crime and to sensitise youths on the effect of using hard drugs.
“Recently,there had been incidents of attack and cult killings among youths in the community.
“But with this kind of program, we can change the narrative and re-orientate them,” Taiwo said.
However, the president advised youths to shun criminality and used of hard drugs to become better citizen and be committed to the development of their community and the country at large.
Also at the summit, the Secretary, Ikorodu West Community Development Committee(CDC), Mr Sunday Abiodun said the reason for the summit was to further the experience of residents about security consciousness of the environment.
Abiodun applauded the efforts of the security agencies in curtailing crime and their quick response on distress calls while he urged them to do more in curbing cult menace ravaging the community.
Abiodun also commended the effort of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) over the passage of cultism bill adding that the bill would go a long way in curbing cultism that has been in the rampage over time.
According to him, the proactive process in screening and creation of data base for both landlords and tenants in the past has helped in reducing crime which was intandom with the Lagos State cultism bill.
“Precedence has led us to know that the community is perceived as an hide out for criminals which is mostly youths and we want to change the narrative.
“PYA has done a tremendous job by trying to change the orientation and criminal mindsets of thier colleagues.
“The CDC have promised to support youths with innovation and positive idea so that when others see them grow it may change their orientation,” he said.
One of the participants, Mr Fasasi Apanisile, call on the security agencies to protect anybody who diseminate useful information to them in carrying out operations.
Apanisile call on the NDLEA to be proactive on their enforcement on sales of cannabis sativa (India hemp) adding that peddlers of such substance are mostly found in the shanties.
He urged law enforcement agencies to engage in continuous raiding and effect arrest on drugs peddlers around the shanties to dislodge them totally from the community.
“The sales of hard drugs have been going on unabated which is a strong stimulant for enhancement to commit crime.
“If the issue hard drugs is address at the grassroots level, it will go a long way in reducing crime rate in the state,” he said