The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Fatai Tijani, on Thursday inaugurated the operational base of the Lagos State Police Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
Speaking during the inauguration of the unit at Otto, Ijora, Tijani said the VCRU was established to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve rapid response to violent crimes and enhance public safety across the state.
He added that the unit was also created to tackle serious crimes and not to intimidate, harass or extort members of the public.
Tijani charged its personnel to combat violent crimes professionally, while respecting the rights of residents.
“The VCRU is not a unit for harassment, intimidation or carrying out unlawful conduct.
“Every officer must carry out his or her duty with discipline, professionalism, accountability, respect for the rule of law and the fundamental rights of citizens,” he said.
The commissioner warned that any officer found engaging in misconduct or violating the rights of any member of the public would face disciplinary action.
Tijani said the success of policing depended on intelligence gathering and collaboration with residents, and urged Lagos residents to continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies.
According to him, security is a collective responsibility and communities must see police as partners in ensuring peace and public safety.
The police chief commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, for supporting initiatives aimed at improving operational effectiveness and crime-fighting across the country.
He also lauded the Lagos State Government and the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund(LSSTF), Dr Ayo Ogunsan, for providing logistics, tactical vehicles and other operational equipment to strengthen policing in the state.
“The continued support from the state government and other stakeholders has significantly enhanced the command’s operational capacity and ability to respond swiftly to security threats,” he said.
The commissioner also urged personnel of the unit to justify the confidence reposed in them by serving with integrity, courage and professionalism.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing, operational excellence and community partnership.
Tijani expressed confidence that the VCRU would play a critical role in reducing violent crime and make Lagos safer for residents and businesses.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of LSSTF, Ogunsan, described Lagos as Nigeria’s safest state, attributing the feat to sustained investment in security and strong collaboration among stakeholders.
Ogunsan assured the VCRU of the LSSTF’s support, saying that the Fund had already donated seven tactical vehicles to enhance its operational effectiveness.
He also disclosed that LSSTF
had supplied more than 1,200 police uniforms and other operational equipment to the command to improve the welfare of officers.
Ogunsan urged residents and the private sector to continue to support the trust fund through donations.
He stressed that sustained collaboration among the government, security agencies and the public remained key to combating crime and keeping Lagos safe.
The Officer in Charge of the VCRU, CSP Oyin Oremosu, assured residents that the unit would carry out its duties with courage, discipline, integrity and professionalism, while upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ rights.
Oremosu said the VCRU was established to combat violent crime through intelligence-led policing, prompt response and effective investigations.
He added that the unit’s success would depend on the continued support and cooperation of the public.
He also appreciated the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders for their support in strengthening security in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Mr Olalekan Adigun, commended the command for establishing the VCRU and involving young people in its policing initiatives.
He described the unit as a strategic step towards tackling violent crime and pledged the support of the youth council in partnering with the police to enhance security in the state.
Adigun urged officers of the VCRU to operate professionally and respect the rights of young people, stressing that they should protect, rather than harass or victimise residents.
He expressed confidence that continued collaboration between the police and the public would enhance safety across Lagos. (NAN).
