A former Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government in Lagos State, Pa. L. Ayo Raji has urged that giving room for community policing is a welcome development but needs to be regulated to avoid the opposite.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, Pa Raji said community policing would ensure that police operatives know communities inside out. “It will be easy for them to detect criminals and know their hideouts, because they live together with them and they are not ghosts.”
Pa Raji recalled that in the 50s, the Constabulary Police were used by the government then to oppress opposition parties, noting that it eventually led to the political crisis in the West.
“Even the forest guards then were not exonerated as they too seized the opportunity of their position to oppress innocent citizens. All the atrocities committed by this set of security agencies continued until 1959 when the government which took over power then brought it to an end to check mate them,” he said.
Pa Ayo Raji said creating community policing was good, but “their operations have to be regulated to avoid being used by elected public office holders or governments in power to make use of them for selfish gains.”
He urged the Federal Government to make a law that will regulate the operation of the community police if and when it is created to enhance discipline and justice.