Senior Editors, Media Veterans, Security Journalists Task LSSTF’s New ES/CEO, Ogunsan To Ensure Compulsory Use Of Body Cameras In Security Management
By Oki O. Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
A renewed call for the compulsory use of body-worn cameras by security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos State were part of discussions at a recent strategic media engagement between senior editors, veteran and security journalists with the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan. The media leaders, drawing from years of reporting on policing, defence, public safety, and civic accountability, urged the Lagos State Government to revisit and fully implement its earlier commitment to equip officers with body cameras.
According to the editors, body-worn cameras have become a global gold standard in modern policing, offering real-time documentation that enhances professionalism, protects citizens, and provides undeniable evidence in complex law enforcement situations.
One senior editor recalled that shortly after the #EndSARS protests, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu publicly expressed the intention to introduce body cameras for officers in Lagos which was a move that was widely commended at the time. However, the initiative has yet to fully materialize. “Body cameras will help accountability, plain and simple,” one editor asserted, emphasizing that the devices would serve multiple beneficiaries simultaneously: the public, the Police, and the justice system.
The body cameras, they argued, would not only protect citizens from abuse of power but also safeguard officers from false accusations, offering clear video records of interactions during arrests, patrols, and emergency responses.
Editors maintained that the absence of such technology leaves too many grey areas in policing narratives, often leading to mistrust between the public and security agencies. With Lagos being a complex megacity of over 20 million people, they stressed that adopting body cameras is no longer optional, it is a necessity for 21st-century security management. They also argued that the introduction of body cameras aligns perfectly with the transparency and accountability agenda outlined by Dr. Ogunsan since assuming leadership of the LSSTF.
In response, Dr. Ogunsan acknowledged the merit and urgency of the recommendation. He agreed that modern policing requires digital tools that build trust, improve evidence gathering, and support effective justice delivery. He reiterated that the Fund’s commitment to championing the cause and collaborating with the government, while also incorporating the acquisition of body-worn camera systems into its resource mobilization strategy.
