This call came as officials underscored the importance of grassroots security initiatives and the welfare of police officers in maintaining national security.

At a stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Umuahia on Thursday, themed “Community Policing: Building A Safer Nigeria Together,” Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted ongoing federal efforts to improve police welfare through a six-point framework designed to strengthen the force.

She emphasized the need for public cooperation in security responsibilities and outlined plans for upgrading police infrastructure, including barracks and training schools.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim also praised Abia State for its security measures and the efforts of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state.

The meeting aimed to foster transparent dialogue between the Ministry of Police Affairs and citizens, detailing current and upcoming reforms within the Nigeria Police.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti reinforced the collective responsibility for security, noting his administration’s support for the police and other security agencies.

Additionally, the Minister commissioned a new Police Clinic and a school for police officers’ children in Umuahia.

The reassurance follows concerns raised about the presence of police operatives in these areas.

In a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Fayoade addressed recent publications suggesting inadequate police coverage and potential collusion with criminal elements.

Fayoade emphasized that police officers in patrol cars and on bikes are deployed around the clock to key locations, including the Third Mainland Bridge.

He urged motorists and residents to utilize the police presence and report any suspicious or criminal activity immediately.

Commuters are advised to contact the police at the following numbers for emergencies: 09168631001, 09168631002, 09168631003, 09168631004, 08065154338, and 08063299264.

The Commissioner also affirmed that the safety and security of all residents and visitors remain a top priority.

During a joint media briefing at Defence Headquarters in Abuja, IGP Egbetokun revealed that both domestic and international funders of the violence and subversion have been tracked, their accounts blocked, and sources of funding halted.

The briefing was summoned by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, with participation from other security chiefs, including the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, who disclosed that the sponsors identified live abroad.

Service chiefs, including General Christopher Musa and Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja, warned that the military would not stand by and watch the country slide into anarchy.

As protests in Port Harcourt intensified, demonstrators marched to the private residence of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and blocked the East-West road and other major roads to traffic.

However, there was a decrease in tension in Kano and Kaduna, where curfews imposed by the state governments helped calm the situation.

IGP Egbetokun emphasized that the police have managed the crisis without using water cannons, live bullets, or rubber bullets, relying only on teargas.

He clarified that the reported shooting of an innocent protester in Kubwa, Abuja, was not by police operatives but by armed robbers or hoodlums.

“Since August 1, nobody has fired gunshots, and we didn’t use force on innocent protesters. We only provided security for them. Even amid the protest, we have arrested several armed robbers and criminal elements who stole and committed other offenses,” he said.

Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Salman Garba, disclosed that his command arrested six Spanish nationals and 76 others, including a tailor sewing Russian flags.

“We have recovered 23 Russian flags and are trailing the sponsor. They have been transferred to Force Headquarters because it involves sedition and national security,” stated CP Garba.

In a post on X.com on Friday, Adejobi referenced Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, which states that anyone who knowingly receives stolen goods is guilty of a felony.

Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act states: “Any person who receives anything which has been obtained by means of any act constituting a felony or misdemeanour, or by means of any act done at a place not in Nigeria, which if it had been done in Nigeria would have constituted a felony or misdemeanour, and which is an offence under the laws in force in the place where it was done, knowing the same to have been so obtained, is guilty of a felony.

If the offence by means of which the thing was obtained is a felony, the offender is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years, except in the case in which the thing so obtained was postal matter, or any chattel, money or valuable security contained therein, in which case the offender is liable to imprisonment for life.

In any other case, the offender is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

For the purpose of proving the receiving of anything, it is sufficient to show that the accused person has, either alone or jointly with some other person, had the thing in his possession, or has aided in concealing it or disposing of it.”

Adejobi stressed that receiving stolen property is a criminal offence that can lead to significant prison time. He advised Nigerians to exercise caution and ensure the legitimacy of the sources of any items they receive, keep, or buy.

He wrote: “Receiving stolen property is a criminal offence. Don’t receive for, keep or buy items you are not sure of their sources. Such could be dangerous and land someone in prison. See sec 427 of the criminal code.”

The Delta State Police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, gave the warning while enlightening the public about the consequence of child defilement.

Speaking in a post on his X handle, he noted that parents who cover defilement will be charged to court for aiding and abetting.

“A sexual intercourse with either a girl or boy under the age of 13 years is defilement, and the punishment if found guilty is life imprisonment. Section 218 CC.

“In this case, consent is immaterial and such offences cannot be compounded. So, swearing to an affidavit in court won’t work. In fact, any parent who tries to cover defilement could be charged to court for aiding and abetting.”

Gaidam was among the ministers who spoke at the National Press Centre, Abuja, during the second day of the Ministerial Sectoral Updates, marking one year of the Tinubu administration.

He highlighted that the Nigeria Police Force is collaborating to develop and implement a Revitalized Police Agenda and Transformation Roadmap.

This initiative addresses current challenges and transforms the Nigerian Police Force into a modern, proactive, and efficient entity.

Key focus areas under the Renewed Hope policing vision include enhancing infrastructure development, boosting the technical and operational efficiency of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), improving welfare within the NPF, establishing a robust policy framework for policing in Nigeria, and prioritizing the wellness of NPF officers.

Additionally, efforts are being made to strengthen community policing, build public trust in the NPF, rebrand the NPF, and restore citizens’ confidence in the force.

Gaidam outlined several achievements over the past year, including establishing the National Criminal Data Fusion Center (NCDFC) for the Nigeria Police Force, strengthening the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), and automating police specialized services.

The Ministry has also launched the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), enhanced the deployment of tactical squads, shifted towards E-Policing, improved highways and train safety measures, and revamped infrastructure at the Police Academy. Emphasis has also been placed on community policing and citizen engagement.

The Minister emphasized that the Nigeria Police system has fully embraced community-oriented policing, recognizing its importance in promoting nationwide safety.

Additionally, Gaidam noted that the Ministry of Police Affairs promoted 3,071 education officers within the police education system, addressing salary arrears owed for over five years.

The Police Pension Bill is currently under review to enhance the welfare of police officers.

Under Gaidam’s leadership, the Nigeria Police Veterans Foundation, which supports retired police officers, has been established.

He announced a pool of 10,000 personnel prepared for immediate deployment pending constitutional provisions from the Federal Government and National Assembly.

Sanwo-Olu eagerly anticipates the rollout of state police, indicating plans to integrate the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) into the new force.

Sanwo-Olu said, “I am an advocate for it. I believe we needed it like yesterday. And the interesting thing is that we have the Neighborhood Watch and it is still functional, about 6,000 of them. The good news is that I have given approval for us to recruit additional 4,000 of them. And this is job for our youths, our able-bodied men.

“What that means for me is that if they give approval for state police, I have 10,000 men that I can further train and get them ready and these are people that know the entire community, the nooks and crannies.”

“I am waiting for it,” the governor stressed, adding that men of the neighbourhood watch, if empowered to bear assault rifles, will surpass expectations.

Sanwo-Olu said already “they provide intelligence at our state security meetings and you can imagine what happens if that is turned around to a proper security agency”.

State police has been a subject of controversy since the Seventh National Assembly and has failed to make it through the amendment phase.

This week, a Constitution Amendment Bill to introduce state police scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

Edafe emphasized that criminals often exploit the link between the victim’s bank accounts and their phone numbers, gaining unauthorized access to the accounts. He recommended the activation of a SIM pin as a crucial step to thwart such criminal activities, making it challenging for assailants to access victims’ accounts even if they possess the stolen mobile phones.

He stated, “When you lose your phone and before you know it, your bank account has been emptied, the criminals didn’t have access to your bank account because they have your phone or mobile banking app, they did because they have your SMS alert sim card.”

Edafe stressed the importance of promptly activating a sim pin on all sim cards, describing it not as an option but a necessary security measure. He urged individuals who have not implemented this security feature to do so without delay.

The advisory comes in the wake of reported incidents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where residents have suffered financial losses due to criminals, commonly known as ‘one chance,’ who snatch phones and exploit them to access victims’ bank accounts.

He said, “Let me say that the new slogan for 2023, 2024 for our young ones is ‘no go gree for anybody.’

“We have been informed from our intelligence that this slogan is coming from a revolutionary sector that may likely cause problem across the country.

“‘No go gree for anybody’ is being seen as just a normal talk, but in security business, in the security community, we have seen it as a very dangerous slogan that can trigger crisis.”

The announcement was made in a statement by Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer.

Fayoade takes over from Idowu Owohunwa, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police and redeployed to the AIG Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.

The new Commissioner of Police, an indigene of Ila-Orangun in Osun State, brings a wealth of experience to the role.

He joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 18, 1992, and holds academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in Education/History from Lagos State University, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Lagos, and an LLB from the National Open University of Nigeria.

Fayoade has undergone various training courses both locally and internationally, enhancing his expertise in areas such as Criminal Justice Administration, Adopting Community Policing Ethos, Leadership and Senior Management, and International Police Cooperation.

Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Fayoade received awards such as Best Divisional Police Officer in Africa in 2007 and 2013.

He has served in various capacities, including as DCP Maritime Command, Lagos, and DCP State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lagos.

Hundeyin highlighted Fayoade’s promotion to the rank of Commissioner of Police in September 2022, where he was deployed as CP Armament, Force Headquarters, Abuja, before proceeding to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos.

Lagos residents are urged to extend maximum support to CP Fayoade as he takes charge of ensuring the safety and security of lives and property in the state.