The Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh in charge of Zone 2 Command Headquarters Onikan, Lagos has reaffirmed the police’s commitment to building stronger partnerships with the youths, describing them as the nation’s hope for the future.
Olohundare spoke at a-one day programme themed: The Political Intelligence Summit, Youth-Police Engagement Across the IBILE Divisions organised by the Lagos State Office Of Political Legislative And Civic Engagement, OPL & CE, in collaboration with Bureau of the Public Defender, BPD, held at the MD Abubakar Hall Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos.
The Zone 2 Commander called on youths to partner with law enforcement agency called on young Nigerians to actively support crime prevention efforts, combat misinformation and strengthen cooperation with law enforcement as part of efforts to improve public safety and community policing.
AIG Olohundare said young people remain indispensable partners in promoting peace, security and sustainable development.
Addressing the participants, the Police boss described youths as the “backbone of the nation” whose leadership begins today, not tomorrow, stressing that meaningful engagement between the police and young people is critical to building mutual trust and strengthening community resilience.
The AIG said effective policing requires collaboration among law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, community-based organisations and young people, anchored on respect for human rights, accountability, inclusiveness and dialogue.
He urged participants to reject misinformation and hate-filled narratives capable of undermining national unity, noting that young people have a vital role to play in promoting accurate information and supporting security agencies.
He further urged young Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process while rejecting violence and criminal activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
AIG Olohundare said sustained dialogue between the police and young people had strengthened trust and contributed to peaceful relations across Lagos and Ogun states.
According to him, the engagement initiative, supported by the Government of Lagos and other partners, has fostered better understanding between the police and the youth.
“There has not been any instance where the youth in Lagos have gone out to protest against the police. Everything has been based on understanding because of this kind of engagement,” he said.
He stressed that the long-standing slogan, “Police is your friend,” has evolved into a stronger partnership between the police and citizens.
“We are beyond friendship now; we are your partners in everything that you do. Come to us whenever you have any complaint, and we will address it,” he said.
The AIG noted that the programme was timely as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 election season, encouraging young people to see themselves as critical stakeholders in the country’s democratic development.
Disagreeing with the notion that politicians often use youths to forment trouble during elections, he said young Nigerians have become more politically conscious and understand the importance of peaceful participation.
“Your votes count. The youth constitute a significant percentage of the voting population and are part of the progress of our democracy. They are more aware today and know they are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Responding to concerns over delays in criminal trials caused by the absence of Investigating Police Officers, IPOs, in court, the AIG attributed the challenge to transfers, retirements, and the prolonged nature of some criminal cases.
He explained that cases sometimes remain in court for over a decade, during which investigating officers may have been redeployed or retired, making coordination difficult.
He, however, assured that the police would continue to improve collaboration with other stakeholders in the criminal justice system to ensure officers attend court promptly and justice is not delayed.
The Police boss urged young Nigerians to avoid criminal activities and resist attempts by anyone to lure them into crime.
“Don’t get yourself involved in criminal activities. Don’t allow anybody to lure you into criminality because ignorance is not an excuse under the law,” he warned.
He also advised youths to use social media responsibly by avoiding the spread of false information or messages capable of creating fear and panic in society.
“We want our social media-savvy youths to use these platforms for education and positive engagement. Don’t send messages you cannot control or those capable of causing fear,” he said
According to him, greater youth participation in crime prevention and community policing would enable security challenges to be addressed through cooperation rather than confrontation.
He commended the executive governor of Lagos state, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for creating platforms that encourage dialogue between the police and young people, saying such initiatives have helped bridge the gap between both groups and strengthened public confidence in policing.
He also praised the support the Lagos State Government has continued to provide the police, attributing the state’s relatively low crime rate to sustained investments in security infrastructure, logistics and operational support.
He called on other state governments to emulate Lagos by promoting similar youth engagement initiatives capable of fostering trust between citizens and security agencies.
AIG Olohundare said future engagements would extend beyond physical meetings to include social media campaigns, school outreach programmes, mentorship initiatives and community service projects aimed at educating young people on civic responsibility and security awareness.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to community-oriented policing and constructive engagement with the public.
Olohundare pledge that the police remain committed to protecting citizens’ constitutional rights while encouraging responsible civic participation.
He further assured participants that the force would continue to deepen public enlightenment on its operations and reforms, stressing that effective policing cannot succeed without the cooperation and trust of the youth.
In her opening remarks, Permanent Secretary, OPL & CE, Engr. (Ms.) Sholabomi Mosunmola Shasore, represented by Dr. Omotayo Babatunde, Director from the Citizen Engagement Department, said security is a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of government, communities and the youth.
According to her, while opening the event with a speech themed, “Bridging the Gap: Youth-Police Engagement for Community Safety and Social Reform,” she stated that the engagement was designed to foster constructive dialogue, strengthen trust between youths and law enforcement agencies, enhance political intelligence and encourage community-driven solutions to security challenges.
The Permanent Secretary described young people as vital partners in nation-building, stressing that their energy, creativity and innovation are essential to building safer and more resilient communities.
Dr. Babatunde on her behalf further added that effective policing can only thrive where there is mutual trust, understanding and cooperation between citizens and security institutions.
The OPL & CE official through her representative also highlighted the importance of political intelligence in governance, saying it enables government to better understand public concerns, identify emerging issues and develop policies that promote peace, stability and social cohesion.
“Security can no longer be viewed solely as the responsibility of law enforcement agencies. Rather, it is a collective responsibility that requires the active involvement of government, communities, and particularly our youth,” she said.
He urged participants to engage openly and constructively throughout the summit, expressing confidence that stronger partnerships and practical recommendations from the dialogue would improve community safety and deepen public confidence in government institutions.
In his presentation, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dr. Olasoji Akinbayo, who presently commands the Enugu State Forest Guard spoke about global standard policing and global standard practice for arrest, highlighted that police comply with best practices.
Lagos State Ministry of Justice’s Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Adebayo Haroun, pledged its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of criminal cases, stressing that offenders will not be shielded from justice.
The DPP said the government remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will only take over criminal cases where necessary to ensure justice is served.
“Anybody who has committed an offence must answer for it. We are not going to shield anyone from the consequences of their actions,” he said.
Mr. Haroun explained that decisions by the Ministry to take over or return cases are guided strictly by legal advice and the facts presented during investigations.
According to him, some case files recently reviewed were returned to the police for further investigation, while others were directed to proceed with prosecution, demonstrating the close working relationship between the Ministry and the police.
The State Prosecutor emphasised that the Ministry was not interested in frustrating the efforts of law enforcement agencies but in ensuring that criminal cases are diligently prosecuted to secure justice.
To improve prosecution, the he called on Investigating Police Officers, IPOs, to be more committed to court proceedings by honouring invitations to testify and providing evidence based on the investigations they conducted.
He noted that prosecutors often face delays when IPOs fail to appear in court or when witnesses cannot be located because of inaccurate addresses and non-functional telephone numbers recorded during investigations.
Investigating officers were therefore urged to verify witnesses’ contact details and maintain regular follow-up on cases to prevent prosecutions from stalling.
“It is not in our interest to have criminals roaming the streets. We are ready to proceed, but the police must also be ready to cooperate with us and work with us,” he said.
He further disclosed that the DPP has successfully handled more than 90 per cent of the case files forwarded to it and pledged to sustain its collaboration with the police.
He also encouraged officers to maintain open communication with the Ministry whenever issues arise during investigations or prosecution.
Also, Dr. Babajide Martins, the pioneer Permanent Secretary, BPD and retired DPP spoke about the right to peaceful demonstration and the duties of the Police.
The event brought together government officials, police officers, civil society organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening police-youth relations and enhancing community security in line with international best practices.
