FCT CP: Urges Iru Ekun Security Network Collaboration, Police Notification

• FCT Commissioner of Police Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi urged the Iru Ekun Security Network to collaborate closely with official security agencies.
• The directive, issued during a meeting with FCT coordinator Segun Olufadeju, stressed prior police notification for all security activities.
• Commissioner Sanusi emphasized that cooperation with police, armed forces, and DSS is essential for effective community policing and crime prevention.
• Iru Ekun founder Sunday Igboho commended the Inspector-General of Police and other high-ranking officials for their support of the outfit.
• The security network pledged to inform and engage the FCT police regarding its operations, aiming to strengthen peace and tackle crime.

The FCT CP's directive to the Sunday Igboho security outfit police notification requirement is a crucial step towards integrating non-state security actors into the broader Nigeria community policing guidelines.

The Federal Capital Territory's Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, has issued a clear directive to the Iru Ekun Security Network, emphasizing the critical need for strengthened collaboration with established security agencies. This directive, delivered on a recent Saturday during a meeting at the Commissioner's Abuja office, specifically urged the non-state security actor to notify the police before undertaking any security-related operations. The meeting involved the FCT coordinator of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Segun Olufadeju, also known as Aluwaye, and his team.

The Commissioner's instruction underscores a broader push for formalized engagement between community security groups and official law enforcement bodies. According to a statement released by Sunday Igboho’s media office, Commissioner Sanusi highlighted that cooperation with the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security entities is fundamental for effective community policing and successful crime prevention. He acknowledged the Iru Ekun Security Network's activities but reiterated the necessity of informing relevant security agencies, particularly divisional police authorities in their operational areas, about any crime prevention or detection efforts prior to execution.

In response to the Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi FCT CP directive, Segun Olufadeju pledged the Iru Ekun Security Network's commitment to engaging and informing the FCT police regarding its future activities. This commitment aligns with the stated purpose of the meeting, which was to foster greater cooperation between the police and the security network to combat crime and promote peace within the Federal Capital Territory.

The founder of the Iru Ekun Security Network, Sunday Adeyemo, widely known as Sunday Igboho, publicly commended the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, for his support of the security outfit. This acknowledgment, conveyed in the statement from Igboho's media office, suggests a level of official recognition and backing for the group's operations. Igboho further asserted that the outfit's reported successes in addressing critical security challenges, such as abductions, banditry, and farmers-herders clashes, have been significantly bolstered by its cooperation with various security agencies.

Beyond the Inspector-General, Sunday Igboho also identified other high-ranking security officials who have provided support to the Iru Ekun Security Network. These individuals include the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi. Such mentions underscore the importance of high-level engagement and the potential for non-state actors to contribute to national security objectives when operating within established frameworks.

Igboho reiterated the Iru Ekun Security Network's readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders across the security sector. This willingness aims to further peace initiatives and enhance the protection of communities against criminal elements, particularly targeting law-abiding Nigerians in the South West region. The FCT CP urges Iru Ekun Security Network collaboration as a model for how such partnerships can be structured to enhance overall security outcomes.

The FCT CP's directive to the Sunday Igboho security outfit police notification requirement is a crucial step towards integrating non-state security actors into the broader Nigeria community policing guidelines. By stressing the need for prior notification and robust collaboration, Commissioner Sanusi is reinforcing the principle that all security operations, regardless of their origin, must be coordinated with and sanctioned by official law enforcement bodies. This approach is vital for maintaining order, preventing conflicts, and ensuring accountability within the security landscape.

Formalizing these interactions is paramount for mitigating legal risks for community security groups and ensuring their operational legitimacy. When groups like the Iru Ekun Security Network police notification protocols are clearly defined and adhered to, it helps to prevent misunderstandings, avoid accidental confrontations with state forces, and ensures that their efforts contribute positively to crime prevention rather than inadvertently complicating security situations. This emphasis on structured engagement is a cornerstone of modern community policing strategies, which seek to leverage local knowledge and resources while maintaining central oversight.

This development highlights the evolving nature of security provision in Nigeria, where community-led initiatives play an increasingly important role. However, their effectiveness and acceptance hinge on their ability to operate transparently and in full cooperation with the state. The call for the Iru Ekun Security Network collaboration serves as a precedent for how such partnerships can be managed to enhance public safety and align with national security objectives, ensuring that all efforts are synchronized and legitimate.

Lawyers advising community security groups or non-state security actors in Nigeria should counsel their clients on the critical need to formalize collaboration and notification protocols with the Nigerian Police Force and other official security agencies, as emphasized by the FCT CP. This is crucial for mitigating legal risks, ensuring operational legitimacy, and aligning with evolving community policing frameworks.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH