Lagos Police Command has staged a concert during which time the Command’s spokesman, CSP Dolapo Badmus vowed to use music to galvanise the youths to shun crime and engage in meaningful ventures that would add value to their lives.
Dolapo said that youths in secondary schools and tertiary institutions are being targeted to dissuade them from all forms of criminality, saying that the nation’s music industry is improving, with the youth constituting the majority of players in the industry.
She stressed that the police would no longer just react to security issues, but takes more proactive measures to tackle crimes including engaging the youth in activities would bolster unity and understanding.
Dolapo explained that the musical concert was designed to interact with the youths in order to sway them from cultism, internet fraud, drug dealings and other related offences common among them.
She urged the youths to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the command to get acquainted with vital security measures to protect themselves and their communities.
“The police would no longer want to see the young ones who are the country’s future behind bars,’’ he said, adding that the overall aim was to “create a better society.’’
“I’m passionate about the youths, not only because they are the future of our country but because I am also one. In the past, there was no good relationship between the police and the youths but with the concert I think they now know that the police is not interested in putting them behind bars or arresting them, but only trying to train them to become good ambassadors of the nation.
“We don’t want to see any youth behind bars simply because they lack mentorship.”
Dolapo assured that the friendship between the police and citizens would be maintained, with the main focus on the youths who remain the target of the police orientation and enlightenment programmes.
Also, Spokesman of Lagos State Police Command, Chike Oti urged Nigerian musicians to use their songs in promoting peace and harmony instead of encouraging the youth to be gangsters.
According to him, Nigerian musicians should take a cue from the old school musicians who promote unity and build the nation through songs.
“When you listen to songs from the past, you will realise that musicians then sang to promote unity and engage the youths. An example is Christy Essien Igbokwe. Nigerian musicians need to look beyond the present and think of how their music can be utilised positively to better Nigerians.
“Now that most of the trending musicians in Nigeria are youths, it is easier for them to connect with the youth and change the narrative. Their songs should be used to condemn drugs, cultism and other criminal acts. It should be engaging and promote unity.
“The concept of fighting crime among the youth in the command through music is capable of curbing the high rate of crime taking place in the state when musicians on their part sing songs with engaging and life changing lyrics.” he said. [myad]
