Ahead July 12 LG Elections, ‘We Will Prevent Any Form of Thuggery, Violent Elections’ – ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda Tells Alimosho Stakeholders, Residents
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Ahead of Lagos State LGAs/LCDAs elections slated for 12th July 2025, the Nigeria Police are gearing for a peaceful elections. As the no. 1 security agency tasked with election monitoring and security, the Police leadership began consultation across the board, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
Over the weekend, the Area Commander in charge of Area M Police Command in Idimu, Lagos State, ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda engaged with stakeholders within her jurisdiction, Alimosho LGA, which is the most populous local government in Lagos State. She assured them that there will be law and order during the elections as the Police will prevent any form of thuggery and violent action. She also indicated the readiness of the Police to make LASIEC function effectively.
The stakeholders present at the Security Stakeholders’ meeting include traditional leaders such as Oba of Isheri Kingdom Alimosho, HRM Olusegunloye 1, Oba Dr. Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal; Alakesan of Akesan, Oba Abidemi Aberejo; Onishasha of Shasha, HRH Oba Babatunde Akanbi Nasir Ogunrunbi; Seriki Hausa of Alimosho General, Alhaji Ahmed Haruna Karaja; Vice Chairman, PCRC Area M, Alhaji M.A Adebajo; CAN representative, Evang. Akinola; Representative of Oba Igando, Alhaji Akeem Dada; Political representatives of the party Candidates for the LGA Chairmanship elections, PCRC members in Alimosho, Police officers, officers from sister security agencies, and others were present.
Other are senior police officers from Area M Command: 2i/c Area M, CSP Ronke Bakare; DPO Igando, CSP Kabiru Sulaiman; DPO Ikotun, CSP Oni Waheed; DPO Shaha, CSP Ojajuni Adeleke; DPO Isheri Oshun, CSP Ogbeifun Kenneth; DPO Idimu, CSP Eze Aghata; DPO Gowon Estate, SP Owolabi Sefunmi; Commander, Panther Egbeda, CSP Charles Sawyer; Commander Shark Ejigbo, CSP Aduroja Akinola and other officers in Area M Command.
The Area M Commander, ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda informed: ‘I want all stakeholders to know where we stand. The IGP, Dr. Olukayode Egbetokun and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olorundare Moshood Jimoh is keen and has left no stone unturned in ensuring that the policy in place is for security of lives and properties. The CP Olorundare Moshood JIMOH stated that there is zero tolerance for crime, election violence, and cultism in Lagos. In view of this, I, as your Area Commander, ACP Tokunbo Abaniwonda, reiterate our commitment of maintaining absolute law and order during the election and afterwards. We say no to any form of hostility that has been out there around in the area for a while.’
‘I hope we all know that this is the biggest local government in Lagos and by extension Nigeria and we know that Alimosho needs special attention. Things are meant to be done appropriately, according to the policies and procedures. We will use all the procedure to achieve a free and fair election, and peaceful and transparent election.’
Reaffirming their commitment, the Area M Police Command stated that it will continue to work closely with local stakeholders to ensure the elections in Alimosho are peaceful, credible, and reflective of democratic values. ‘What I need from you is commitment and communication that will take us further than we ought to achieve. Even after we are far gone, it’s called a legacy, it should be written of us all in the historical records and placed for generations to come who will be proud of us. Today is all about you. Without you, there would be no us. We implore you to walk with us. We are unwavering and unshakable in the light of making sure sanity is in Area M Command and the environs. Our doors are always open, day and night, with no restrictions at all to male or female, young or old, tribe or religion’, Abaniwonda informed.
‘For the forthcoming election, we are focusing on providing you with peace, support, safety, advice and information, with the full presence of our men. Let’s exercise our right to vote with freedom and safety.’
Acknowledging the complex security landscape in Alimosho, the police leadership urged stakeholders and community leaders to act responsibly. ‘We will prevent any form of violent action from any source by ensuring the protection of candidates, voters and election officers. All aggrieved parties should please seek necessary redress at the court of law and ensure that we follow due process. We will provide visibility policing, deploy adequate personnel and resources within our operations to the polling stations and surrounding areas. We appreciate that the stakeholders collaborate with us, what we want from you is to report any suspicious process and activity not worthy of a good nation.’
Addressing broader security issues, ACP Abaniwonda identified cultism as a persistent threat in the community. As part of the command’s multi-layered security and social intervention plan, the National Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), ACP Olabisi Okuwobi, is scheduled to visit the area. The visit will mark the launch of a grassroots sensitization campaign aimed at discouraging cultism and educating youths on the dangers of anti-social behavior. ‘The Police campaign against cultism and other vices (POCACOV) headed by ACP Olabisi Okuwobi is moving around and will soon join us in Alimosho, in which you all will be invited for the awareness of zero tolerance to cultism.’
Some Stakeholders present at the meeting bare their thoughts.
HRM Oba Dr. Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Lawal Bello of Isheri Olofin noted that the meeting is very important and strategic. ‘As for me, the area of Thuggery and cultism, really boils down to the grassroots. Even before I ascended the throne as Oba, I have heard a lot about cultism which we have been making strategic steps towards curbing such vices. I can tell you now that cultism is reducing to a minimum. We even have some repentant cultists among those with me in this hall today.’
‘In this upcoming election, I call on every stakeholder to be law-abiding. This is the approach we have taken. We will continue to do this even before and after the election.
‘On Information dissemination, most people are scared to give out information because of security threats. But as the Area Commander rightly said you don’t need to show your identity before giving information. I think this attempt is very laudable and her approach is very fantastic.’
The Chairman of Police Eminent Forum, Bishop Oyedepo spoke on one of the challenges. ‘We are going to start with our checkpoints. When you have a checkpoint at every three bus-stops on the same road it’s so tough and it’s really embarrassing. Last week, I saw about four checkpoints in two, three places and the officers were almost running themselves into the people that are driving. I want things to change a little bit in that regard. Also, I want this act of synergy among security agencies to continue in terms of working together and information sharing. When there is no information sharing to them, the police, the security, and all our armed forces are weak. And lastly, I would love to the Area Commander to set up a Police team who will be in charge of the estate security management. You will visit every estate to do a workshop, and ask for the CSO of that estate. If you could have that meeting, then we will be going from one next place to another, giving you reports, and also helping participation.’
The Air Commando at the Navy Base, Alimosho said that ‘the military acknowledges that when it comes to matters of internal security, Police always come first. The military is set up, trained, and equipped to protect Nigeria against external aggression. However, it is part of our position to render support to the Police, whenever we are called to do so. And I believe it is in that recognition that the Area Commander deemed it fit to invite us to this security Stakeholders meeting.’
‘So I want everyone here, as the Area Commander and the Royal Fathers have spoken that nobody should be allowed to be used as a tool for election violence, or Thuggery in the hands of politicians. We will contribute our quota to make sure that 12 July comes out without any undesired incident.’
The Representative of NDLEA, Mr. Ade Kehinde told the stakeholders, ‘There is no government without us, and I just want us to know that to reform the economy. In the NDLEA, we decided to go all out in the area of drug contamination among officials and in the public. When we talk about drug-contamination, we go to the bars, to the schools, to stop drug abuse, to sensitize people and we have a great amount of success.’
