PCRC Hails LSSTF Boss Ogunsan, Rallies Lagos Residents Against Crime Through Community Policing
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Lagos State Command, has commended the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, for his outstanding contributions to security development, even as it intensified grassroots campaigns against crime, cultism and drug abuse across the state.
The commendation came during a courtesy visit by the PCRC leadership to the LSSTF headquarters after concluding a series of advocacy walks aimed at promoting community policing, peaceful coexistence and intelligence sharing among residents.
Leading the delegation, the Chairman of PCRC Lagos State, Apostle Kehinde A. Showemimo, described Dr. Ogunsan as a steadfast supporter of the Nigeria Police Force and a key pillar in strengthening community policing in Lagos.
According to Showemimo, Ogunsan’s unwavering commitment to improving security predates his appointment as the head of the LSSTF.
“Your support cannot be measured or quantified. You have consistently stood by the PCRC and the Nigeria Police, speaking for us and championing initiatives that have strengthened community policing. You remain someone we can always rely on,” he said.
In his response, Dr. Ogunsan applauded members of the PCRC for their dedication and voluntary service, noting that many of them continue to devote their time, experience and personal resources to supporting the police despite being eligible for retirement.
“I appreciate the PCRC. These are individuals who could be enjoying retirement, yet they continue to sacrifice their time and resources to support the police and build safer communities without expecting any reward,” he stated.
Highlighting the LSSTF’s ongoing security initiatives, Ogunsan disclosed that the Fund has expanded the deployment of drone technology to strengthen surveillance and intelligence gathering across Lagos.
He said aerial surveillance operations have covered Epe, Ibeju-Lekki, Badagry and Ikorodu, providing actionable intelligence that has enhanced police operations and other security interventions.
According to him, intelligence gathered through the drone programme recently led to a coordinated security operation involving about 6,000 security personnel drawn from Lagos and Ogun States to flush criminal elements out of forests along the states’ border communities.
“The LSSTF is providing the necessary support and resources to ensure the success of the operation,” he added.
The LSSTF boss also reaffirmed his commitment to capacity building within the security sector, announcing that the Fund’s monthly inter-agency security training programme, introduced in March, would continue throughout the year.
“Training is an essential part of career development. A well-trained security officer is better equipped to protect lives and property,” he said while inviting the PCRC leadership to participate in the July edition of the programme.
Earlier, members of the PCRC embarked on an awareness walk from Pen Cinema through Agege to Area ‘G’ Police Command, engaging residents in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.
The advocacy campaign also encouraged members of the public to build trust with the police by reporting suspicious activities and supporting efforts to maintain peace and security within their communities.
Showemimo noted that beyond advocacy, the PCRC has continued to implement several community-based interventions, including anti-drug campaigns in schools, domestic violence awareness programmes, youth sensitisation initiatives and the donation of communication equipment to police stations.
Also speaking, Executive Assistant to the LSSTF, Mrs. Adaobi Nwankwo, urged residents to utilise the Fund’s dedicated Security Tips WhatsApp platform to submit credible information, photographs, videos and voice messages that could aid security agencies in tackling crime.
She explained that every verified report received through the messaging platform is promptly forwarded to the Nigeria Police Force or the relevant security agency for immediate action.
The visit further underscored the growing partnership between the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, the Police Community Relations Committee and other security stakeholders in leveraging technology, intelligence sharing, continuous training and community participation to enhance safety and security across Lagos State.