Ikorodu’s Security Battle: CP Tijani Mobilises Community Leaders Against Cultism, Crime
The battle to rid Ikorodu of cultism, drug abuse and other forms of insecurity is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility, as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, challenged residents and community leaders to take a more active role in protecting their neighbourhoods.
At a stakeholders’ engagement held in Ikorodu on Thursday, August 13, 2026, CP Tijani brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, traders, transport unions, youth representatives and other community stakeholders under the theme, “Strengthening Community Partnership for a Safer and More Secure Ikorodu.”
Rather than a routine security meeting, the gathering provided an opportunity for stakeholders to openly examine the security challenges confronting the division and explore practical ways of confronting them.
CP Tijani: Security Begins With the Community
CP Tijani said his visit was specifically aimed at addressing pressing security concerns within Area N Command and the wider Ikorodu Division.
Of particular concern to the Commissioner was the persistence of cult-related activities and the apparent reluctance of some residents to report suspected cultists within their communities.
He urged residents to break the culture of silence, stressing that the police cannot successfully fight crime without the cooperation of the people they are sworn to protect.
“Police cannot sit back and watch this happen,” the Commissioner warned, emphasising that the protection of lives and property requires collective responsibility.
He questioned how parents and community leaders could watch young people drift into cultism and criminality without intervention.
“How do we watch our children grow into nuisances in the community?” he asked, warning that failure to monitor young people today could create serious consequences for the entire society tomorrow.
According to him, some of the children who should become future leaders could instead become victims or perpetrators of violence if communities fail to act early.
Beyond Crime Statistics: Protecting a Generation
For CP Tijani, the security challenge in Ikorodu is not simply about crime figures. It is also about protecting the future of young people.
Every cult clash, violent attack or criminal activity, he noted, carries a human cost that extends to families and the wider community.
The Commissioner acknowledged the limitations of police manpower, noting that officers cannot be physically present in every street and neighbourhood at all times.
He therefore urged residents to become the eyes and ears of the police by providing credible information about suspicious activities.
He assured stakeholders that communication channels remain available through DPOs, the Command’s 24-hour emergency lines and his personal contact.
The underlying message was clear: the police cannot secure Ikorodu alone.
Traditional Rulers Renew Their Commitment
The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, commended CP Tijani for his commitment to the division and praised the efforts of police officers working in the area.
The monarch recalled the period when the notorious “Badoo” criminal activities threatened communities in Ikorodu, noting that the eventual success in confronting the menace was achieved through collaboration between residents, traditional institutions and security agencies.
That experience, he suggested, remains a lesson in what collective action can accomplish.
Oba Shotobi pledged continued support for the police and appealed for Ikorodu indigenes to be considered in the recruitment of personnel under any proposed state policing arrangement.
Community Intelligence as a Security Tool
The Seriki of Ikorodu’s representative, Alhaji Abdulazeez Waziri, highlighted efforts already being made within the community to improve identification and accountability.
He disclosed that identity cards had been issued to members of his community, an initiative he said could assist with identification and security monitoring.
The representative of the Igbo Community in Ikorodu, Col. Ruben Nwako (rtd.), also pledged to provide useful information to security agencies.
Such commitments reflect an emerging understanding that effective security is built not only through police patrols and arrests, but also through intelligence generated within communities.
Stakeholders Raise Drug Abuse Concerns
The meeting also drew attention to the connection between drug abuse and criminality.
The Omobowale of Ikorodu expressed concern that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency was not represented at the engagement, stressing that drug abuse remains a significant factor behind several criminal activities.
His intervention broadened the security conversation, suggesting that any serious campaign against cultism must also address the underlying issues that expose young people to substance abuse and criminal networks.
Traders Call for More Police Patrols
Security concerns in Ikorodu’s markets also featured prominently during the engagement.
The Iyaloja General of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Chief Mrs. Ashake Modinat Shonubi, called for increased police patrols around markets.
Although she acknowledged the contributions of local vigilantes, she stressed that visible police presence remained necessary to strengthen security and reassure traders and customers.
She also appealed to police officers to maintain a more civil approach when handling disputes involving market men and women, noting that traders often deal with personal and economic pressures that can complicate situations in the marketplace.
From Dialogue to Action
The engagement brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, market associations, NURTW, RTEAN and representatives of various communities.
Their presence underscored a growing recognition that the security challenges facing Ikorodu require more than police operations.
The real test, however, will be whether the promises made around the table translate into sustained action.
For the police, that means maintaining visibility, responding to credible intelligence and strengthening public trust.
For traditional and community leaders, it means refusing to shield criminals simply because they are members of their communities.
For parents, it means paying closer attention to the activities, relationships and influences shaping their children.
And for young people, it means rejecting cultism, violence and drug abuse in favour of a future built on opportunity and responsible citizenship.
The Ikorodu engagement may have ended with pledges, but it has opened a wider conversation about who is responsible for keeping the division safe.
CP Tijani may have taken the security message to Ikorodu, but the success of the campaign will ultimately be measured not only by what the police do, but by how willing the community is to stand up, speak out and act.