The, Societal Concern, group on Wednesday embarked on a walk to voice out their displeasure over the killings, and attacks on security agents in the country.
The walk, themed: “Guardians of Honour: Protecting Our Protectors, Preserving Our Unity,” began at under bridge Ikeja and extended to the secretariat of Ikeja Local Government, and the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police in Ikeja GRA, and climaxed at the State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja.
CP Adegoke Fayoade addresses participants at the Police Command Headquarters
Speaking during the rally, the convener of the walk and publisher of Society Concerns Magazine, Ambassador Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi David, stated that “we are here to walk against the killings of security personnel in the country and we are saying enough is enough.”
Ambassador David used the opportunity to advise members of the public to stop provoking and frustrating security agent.
According to her, they are here to protect, and serve us. If they have taken up the appointments, we must secure them. If the job is not secure for them, then, we need to ask ourselves why the job is not secure?
“There’s need for all of us to respect the uniform they put on because an attack on any of them is an attack on all of us because they secure us in order to secure the state,” she said.
Convener, Walk Against Killing of Security Personnel, Oluwapelumi David
The convener then expressed disappointment over the constant attacks on security personnel, adding that these are people who secure the lives of others, and wondered why the citizens are attacking them and making their lives short.
“This country needs to move from developing to developed one. How long are we going to continue with this menace,” she said.
Addressing the participants at the Police Command Headquarters, the State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, said, “I want to sincerely thank you on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, for this tremendous support given to the police and other security personnel.”
Participants
CP Adegoke appreciated the efforts of the convener and noted that “these men and women are members of the public; they are either our brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers. The only thing that makes us different is the uniform, so, when we remove the uniform, we are civilians like you.
“We thank you so much and appreciate the fact that you sympathise with us for the loss of our men. It’s not something that we are happy about because when a policeman or woman is gone or when he or she is gruesomely killed, many people, including his wife or her husband, children and the extended family, suffer.
“This walk for security personnel, most especially those of us that ensure that members of the public are well protected, is a good thing and I think it would go a long way to change the mindset of people that specialise in attacking or killing security agents for no reason,” he said.
Hon. Steven Ogundipe addresses participants
According to him, security men and women are not the enemies of the people, but they are preventing crimes and criminal activities from taking place anywhere and protecting the citizenry.
“I appreciate this walk and I know it would go a long way to secure the policemen and other security agents. I hope this walk changes the mindset of those who attack them,” he said.
Receiving the participants at the Lagos House of Assembly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon. Olukayode Steven Ogundipe, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1, appreciated the efforts of the convener and the participants.
“You are not doing this walk because of yourself, but you are doing it because you are patriotic Nigerians and you want the best for the nation. You feel that the security agents are not just security men, but parents of some people. It’s not about them alone, but about so many people.
“So, if they are giving up their lives to serve us, we should also be concerned about their safety. That’s why the House of Assembly, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, is behind you on this, and we would ensure that all the resources needed to put a stop to these killings are made available to the government and the security agencies,” he said.
Participants At The State House of Assembly
Hon. Ogundipe added that the State Assembly is advocating that the government should put all resources together and make efforts to ensure that the security of the people protecting the members of the public is also guaranteed.
The lawmaker further thanked the participants for being peaceful with the protest, and assured them and their leaders that their requests would be presented to the members of the Assembly for consideration
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