From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Ojo Adekimi, has called for stronger partnership between the police and youths, declaring that public trust, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights are critical to tackling insecurity and ensuring effective policing.
Adekimi made the call at the 2026 Police-Youth Interactive Forum, tagged “The Police and You”, organised by the Kwara State Police Command at Peace Hotel Hall, Tanke, Ilorin.
The forum, held under the theme, “Understanding Our Rights: Building Trust, Strengthening Community Security and Promoting Peaceful Elections”, provided a platform for young people to engage with police authorities on security challenges, citizens’ rights and policing practices.
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The police commissioner said the initiative was designed to deepen public participation in security matters in line with the people-oriented policing philosophy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, particularly his commitment to professionalism, accountability and community partnership.
He explained that the forum was informed by concerns and expectations previously expressed by young people through radio programmes, TikTok live discussions and other engagement platforms.
According to him, the physical gathering was intended to take discussions beyond social media and create an opportunity for direct interaction, exchange of ideas and practical solutions to challenges affecting police-community relations.
“Today is a victory for your voices. You have asked questions, expressed concerns, offered suggestions and challenged us to do better.
“You asked for engagement, and today we are engaging. You asked to be heard, and today you have the floor,” Adekimi said.
He described listening to citizens and responding to their concerns as important responsibilities of leadership, stressing that the police must remain open to constructive criticism and suggestions from members of the public.
The commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining law and order and confronting criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism across the state.
He, however, maintained that effective policing should not be measured only by arrests and crime prevention but also by public confidence, professionalism and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.
“We can be firm against crime and respectful towards law-abiding citizens. We can enforce the law decisively while remaining accountable to the people,” he stated.
Adekimi urged young people to recognise their roles as important stakeholders in maintaining peace and security, noting that constructive engagement with security agencies would strengthen mutual trust and improve policing in the state.
Also speaking at the forum, a legal practitioner, Barr. Adekunle Iwalaye, called for greater understanding of the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force and the fundamental rights of citizens, describing both as essential to building public confidence in law enforcement.
Iwalaye, who spoke on “Police Constitutional Duties and Citizens’ Rights”, said citizens, particularly young people, needed to understand the limits of police powers, their constitutional entitlements and the responsibilities expected of them in maintaining peace and security.
He emphasised the importance of mutual understanding between law enforcement officers and members of the public, noting that effective policing could only thrive where there was cooperation, respect for the rule of law and confidence in security institutions.
The programme featured presentations on lawful arrest and detention, lawful stop and search, channels for reporting police misconduct and accountability, drug abuse, cybercrime, financial fraud, electoral rights and offences.
Other contributors included CSP Okoh Nkama, who spoke on lawful arrest, detention, stop and search, and SP Ajayi Okasanmi (rtd.), who addressed channels for reporting complaints against police misconduct.
Representatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also addressed issues bordering on drug abuse, youth vulnerability, cybercrime, financial fraud, electoral offences and peaceful elections.
A special interactive session, tagged “If You Were the CP for Five Minutes, What Would You Do?”, also allowed selected youth participants to share their expectations and suggestions on policing and security.
The event further featured an open interactive panel where participants engaged stakeholders through questions and answers on security concerns and police-community relations.
The forum formed part of the Kwara Police Command’s efforts to bridge the gap between law enforcement officers and young people, promote accountability and strengthen community participation in maintaining peace and security, particularly ahead of future electoral activities.
