The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, has called on Nigerian youths to build stronger partnerships with the police to combat crime, misinformation and threats to public safety.
Jimoh made the appeal on Tuesday at the Political Intelligence Summit and Youth Police Engagement Programme held at the Zone 2 Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
The summit was organised by the Lagos State Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement in collaboration with the Lagos State Bureau of the Public Defender to strengthen police community relations across the IBILE divisions of Lagos.
The AIG described young people as critical stakeholders in nation building, saying effective youth participation remains indispensable to modern policing, sustainable security and peaceful communities.
He urged youths to see the Nigeria Police Force as partners rather than adversaries, stressing that successful policing depends on mutual trust, dialogue, accountability and active community participation.
According to him, the police have moved beyond the old slogan of “Police is your Friend” to becoming genuine partners committed to protecting lives and property through intelligence sharing and public cooperation.
Jimoh encouraged young Nigerians to freely approach the police with credible information on criminal activities, assuring them that officers remain committed to transparency, professionalism and respect for citizens’ rights.
He warned youths against spreading fake news, hate speech and unverified social media content capable of creating panic, inciting violence and undermining national security.
“The fear of crime is sometimes worse than crime itself. Verify information before sharing it because misinformation creates unnecessary fear and insecurity,” he said.
The AIG reaffirmed that the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, had directed all police formations nationwide to sustain community policing through youth engagement, education, mentorship, public enlightenment, digital communication and constructive dialogue.
He assured participants that the police remained open to criticism and welcomed honest feedback that would improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in law enforcement.
Jimoh stressed that freedom of expression remains a constitutional right and assured participants that nobody should be victimised for expressing lawful opinions within the limits of the law.
He, however cautioned that while peaceful protests are protected, demonstrations must comply with legal provisions, while speeches capable of inciting violence, public disorder or criminal acts remain unlawful.
The AIG commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for consistently supporting security agencies through investments in operational infrastructure, logistics and youth development initiatives that have contributed to crime reduction in Lagos.
He said the annual youth police engagement initiatives introduced by the Lagos State Government have significantly improved trust between security agencies and young people while strengthening intelligence-led policing.
Jimoh noted that the collaboration between Lagos and Ogun police commands has also produced remarkable operational successes against criminal activities due to sustained government support and community partnership.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement, Engr. Sholabomi Shasore, represented by officials of the ministry, said security should no longer be seen as the exclusive responsibility of law enforcement agencies.
According to him, the summit was designed to bridge the gap between youths and the police, promote political intelligence, deepen civic participation and encourage community driven solutions to security challenges across Lagos State.
Also speaking, retired Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of the Public Defender, Dr. Babajide Martins, explained that the Constitution guarantees peaceful protest but emphasised that demonstrations must comply with legal requirements and should never incite violence or public disorder.
Martins also educated participants on police powers, citizens’ rights, lawful arrests, criminal justice procedures and the responsibilities of both security agencies and members of the public, stressing that sustained dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to the rule of law remain essential for building a safer, more secure and democratic Nigeria.