COMMUNITY POLICING IS WORKING IN APAPA – DPO MOMOH SAYS CP FATAI’S DIRECTIVE IS YIELDING RESULTS*

COMMUNITY POLICING IS WORKING IN APAPA – DPO MOMOH SAYS CP FATAI’S DIRECTIVE IS YIELDING RESULTS*
By Prince Benson Davies | The New Experience Newspaper

Since CP Tijani Fatai assumed office on March 26, 2026 as the 42nd Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, community policing has become the centerpiece of his security agenda for the state. During his inaugural address at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, CP Fatai pledged to consolidate existing security frameworks while deploying proactive, intelligence-led and technology-driven strategies to combat crime. He specifically emphasized youth engagement, media collaboration, interagency cooperation, and bringing the police closer to the people.

Nowhere is that vision being tested and delivered more than in Apapa Division. Once notorious for container theft, truck-related crimes, cultism, and “area boys,” the division is now witnessing a turnaround under the leadership of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kahmaldeen Ayofe Momoh.

CSP Momoh, who hails from Gedegede town in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, popularly known as “Jagun Jagun,” said he has spent most of his career in specialized operations. According to him, he has attended several combat training courses in the course of his service, including special forces training and mobile police training on more than three occasions. His experience, he noted, has shaped his approach to policing and community engagement in Apapa.

In an exclusive chat with The New Experience Newspaper, DPO Momoh disclosed how aligning Apapa Division with the Lagos State community policing framework, and engaging traditional rulers, youths, CDAs, CDCs, market leaders and port stakeholders, has helped to restore calm to the area.

Speaking on the key objectives of community policing in Apapa, the DPO said the main goal is to reduce crime and to bring the police closer to the people. According to him, policing cannot succeed without collective responsibility between the police and the public. “If you cannot stop crime, we have to reduce it to the barest minimum,” he said. He noted that some of the issues they deal with include cases like borrowing money and not returning it. He added that the strategy is working seriously to the extent that everywhere is now calm. “We engage ourselves, so the strategy is making the job look easier. For now, we are good. The crime rate is really helping the effectiveness of the CP and the IGP,” he stated.

On how Apapa Division is aligned with the Lagos State community policing framework, DPO Momoh explained that the Lagos State Security Trust Fund has been organizing lectures, programs and seminars to enlighten police officers in Lagos. He said the Fund has provided high-level training, conducted medical tests, and organized seminars that teach officers the dos and don’ts of the job so they can be more professional. “The objective is to create more synergy between the people and other security agencies. As you can see, we are on the same platform. We are working as a collective force against all crimes in Lagos. Without community policing, we cannot achieve that. I am coming from the Barracks, and we are all in Apapa. So we have to engage the community, the closest community, to get to the root of every crime committed in Apapa. And Lagos is our home,” he said.

The DPO also highlighted specific areas that have been cleared of criminal activities since he assumed office. “Areas like Liverpool, Waterside, Calabar Quarters popularly know as Calacuter street and the shanties opposite NIMASA and others have been cleared of criminals. This was achieved through engagement with community people, traditional rulers, youths, and stakeholders of the community. He said, Apapa is now a safe place to live, to do business, and for residential purposes,” he said.

DPO Momoh said the relative peace in Apapa today is direct proof that CP Fatai’s emphasis on community policing is bearing fruit. He noted that intelligence gathering has improved because residents now see the police as partners, not adversaries. He added that the division will continue to deepen town hall meetings, school sensitization, joint patrols with vigilance groups, and youth engagement programs in the next 6 to 12 months.

According to him, the support needed from the CP’s office, the Lagos State Government, and community stakeholders includes logistics, funding for outreach, and continued trust between the police and the public.

In his words, “Policing is not for police alone. It is for all of us. When the people and the police work together, crime will reduce. Apapa has shown that community policing works, and with the backing of CP Fatai, we will sustain the gains.”

With the successes recorded in Liverpool, Waterside and other flashpoints, Apapa Division is positioning itself as a model for how community-driven policing can transform even the busiest port environment in Nigeria.