By DEBORAH AKPEDE AND BOLAJI ISIAQ

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, Mr Olorundare Jimoh, has assured residents of Lagos and Ogun states of improved security, urging them to sustain their trust and cooperation with the police.

Jimoh gave the assurance when the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Integrity Youth Alliance, Abuja, Mr Kehinde Adewole, paid a courtesy visit to the command’s headquarters on Monday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organisation during the visit presented Jimoh with the Outstanding Excellence in Security Leadership Award 2026.

The AIG said the award recognised the efforts of officers and men of the command in combating crime, protecting lives and property and improving public safety.

He said that the recognition was no reason for police officers to be complacent, but rather should be a motivation to do more.

“This award is a special appreciation for the integrity and hard work of our officers. It is a recognition of what we have been doing, but we must not allow the award to get into our heads.

“Rather, it should support and encourage us to do more for the people we are serving,” Jimoh said.

The AIG zone 2 said that the recognition was one of several awards received by him and the command in recent weeks for their contributions to security.

He recalled that he was also recognised at the African Security Awards as an outstanding security chief in West and Central Africa for 2026.

The AIG said his experience as Commissioner of Police in Lagos had given him a deep understanding of the security challenges in Lagos and Ogun.

He noted that the two states were critical to Nigeria’s economic development, with high commercial and industrial activities, making security a major priority.

According to him, the police had introduced various initiatives to reduce crime, protect critical infrastructure and improve public safety across the two states.

Jimoh assured residents that the command would continue to strengthen security along major corridors linking Lagos and Ogun, using intelligence-led strategies to prevent and detect crime.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among security agencies, government institutions and members of the public in tackling crime.

The police chief commended residents of both states for their cooperation and for providing information that had assisted security agencies in preventing and detecting criminal activities.

He urged members of the public to offer constructive criticism whenever they identified shortcomings in police operations.

“Constructive criticism should serve as a mirror for us to examine ourselves and ensure that we do what is expected of us,” Jimoh said.

The AIG also advised members of the public to follow due process in seeking redress following alleged police misconduct.

According to him, petitions against officers should be submitted through appropriate channels for investigation.

He also appealed to the media to give adequate publicity to positive innovations and achievements of the Nigeria Police Force, noting that negative reports often spread faster than positive developments.

The AIG said the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Mr Olatunji Disu, had introduced initiatives aimed at improving security, strengthening police-public partnerships, enhancing training and boosting public confidence in the force.

He said Zone 2 would continue to engage stakeholders through community policing, training and other partnership initiatives to improve service delivery.

Jimoh assured residents that the police would continue to deploy appropriate strategies to prevent crime, detect criminal activities and bring offenders to justice, urging Nigerians to maintain confidence in the force.

Earlier, Adewole said the organisation recognised Jimoh’s leadership, professionalism and contributions to crime prevention and public safety.

He highlighted the recovery of more than 115 stolen vehicles, operations against suspected cultists, maintenance of zero-incident security records during major public events, and the deployment of 250 personnel and 50 tactical vehicles to strategic locations as some of Jimoh’s achievements.

Adewole said the achievements reflected effective leadership and commitment to protecting lives and property, urging Jimoh to sustain the values of integrity and professionalism.

Mr Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, Founder and President, Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation, also described Jimoh as deserving of the Outstanding Excellence in Security Leadership Award 2026.

Awosanya said the relative peace in Lagos was a result of teamwork, intelligence-led policing and community policing.

“The fact that we have peace in Lagos is not by happenstance. It is simply because there is a team working together,” he said.

He also commended Jimoh for engaging communities to promote peace and praised the Integrity Youth Alliance for recognising his contributions to security. (NAN)

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