Key Takeaways:
- AIG Adegoke affirms that Lagos and Ogun are the most peaceful states in Nigeria, boosting business and investment.
- He recounts rejecting a N174 million bribe and highlights community policing as key to crime reduction.
- Adegoke urges Nigerians abroad to return and invest, arguing negative foreign coverage exaggerates risks.
- He calls for modern technology, including drones and predictive tools, to tackle cybercrime and forest-based banditry.
Lagos and Ogun peace and security assessment by AIG Adegoke
Assistant Inspector General of Police Adegoke Mustapha Fayoade has described Lagos and Ogun as the most peaceful states in Nigeria, attributing the stability to sustained community policing, strong government support and targeted intelligence operations. In an exclusive interview with Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA, AIG Adegoke said the security environment in the two states is encouraging business growth and attracting investors, which in turn creates employment and reduces poverty.
Speaking from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, the veteran officer recalled his career achievements and practical experiments in community engagement that yielded measurable reductions in crime. He cited his work as Divisional Police Officer in Ilupeju and Victoria Island, where regular community partnership forums, local committees and clear lines of communication helped to nip criminal activity in the bud.
AIG Adegoke also emphasised integrity in policing. He recounted rejecting a N174 million bribe from a suspect involved in internet fraud and said the act sent a clear message to youths tempted by quick gains through criminality. “The suspect confessed he did not expect the police to be transparent,” Adegoke said, noting the wider reputational damage fraud has caused to Nigeria abroad.
The AIG defended the use of undercovers and intelligence assets to intercept plots before they materialise. He acknowledged isolated incidents do occur but argued they are not representative, and that media attention can exaggerate the scale of such events. He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to discount alarmist foreign reports and consider returning for the festive season and for business opportunities.
On national policy, Adegoke welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s community policing initiative and the broader localisation of recruits to their home states, which he believes improves cultural understanding and trust between officers and communities. “Policing must be localised so that everyone, even the least person, feels part of the policing effort,” he said.
For technological support, AIG Adegoke addressed a hypothetical meeting with foreign partners such as the United States, requesting modern equipment to counter evolving criminal tactics. He highlighted the need for drones, tracking systems, predictive analytics and advanced cybercrime tools to detect and prosecute offenders more efficiently, including those hiding in forested areas.
Reflecting on his time as Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Adegoke pointed to the management of a ten-day protest where authorities confined demonstrators to a designated area and avoided the use of tear gas. He credited collaboration with the Lagos State government and clear operational planning for preventing wider unrest.
Concluding the interview, AIG Adegoke urged fairness and the fear of God as guiding principles for policing, stressing that transparent, objective and community-focused approaches build trust and improve public safety. He expressed hope that the positive trends in Lagos and Ogun will continue and will have a ripple effect on Nigeria’s overall economy.
Photo credit: Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA
