Q: Can we meet you Sir?
A: I am M.K. Sanni, the State coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch, Lagos State.
Q: What can you tell us about Neighbourhood Watch?
A: Neighbourhood Watch was established by the past military Governor of Lagos State, Col. Buba Marwa, in 1996. By that time, I was invited as ex-commandant in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps by Ikorodu Local Government, to come and assist them. Then, it was established in all the twenty (20) local government areas in the state. I went there; the idea was presented to me, and I saw that the way it was established, it would not work out well in Lagos State, because I observed that it was organized in such a way that the watchers would be using bows and arrows, cutlass, knife and horsewhip. For any security man in Lagos State, we were not used to this and I told them in Ikorodu here.
They said I should go to the Lagos State Secretariat at Alausa and I went there. When I got there, I discovered that it was under the Ministry of Local Government. I was told that they knew nothing about it and that it was Governor’s project. I moved to the governor’s office and I was directed to Operation Sweep. When I got there, they said there was nothing they could do about it. I then asked them what they really wanted the Neighbourhood Watch for. They told me that they wanted Neighbourhood Watchers to assist the military officers, who were the Operation-Sweep members in the state then. I told them that if they wanted it that way,. our job would be just like the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), because by then, that was exactly what we were doing. We were complimenting the effort of the police. We were not allowed to carry any arm and we could not even arrest. If we see anything that is quite suspicious, we quickly alerted the police and police would take action.
When the Ministry of Local Government didn’t allow us at all to have a meeting with them I informed the Operation Sweep members that if they needed our assistance, courtesy demands that we should be having meeting with them; and they agreed. So, gradually, we started having meetings with them. Then, I suggested to them that they should assist us by following me to all the twenty (20) Local Government Areas in the state, for them to know the meaning of Neighbourhood Watch. The Commander agreed and followed me. We explained to all the Chairmen of the local governments the meaning of Neighbourhood Watch and what they are meant to do, which is to compliment the effort of the police through intelligence report and rapid information dissemination to the police.
When we had operated for nine (9) years, I suggested to the government that I wanted to celebrate a year anniversary of the security outfit, but it seemed funny to them by then. They asked if I meant that I want to organize a ceremony for Neighbourhood Watchers and I said yes. I only wanted the whole local government areas in the state to know more about Neighbourhood Watch. Also, I thought the uniform, which was like that of a vulcanizer, was not good. I had to change it with my money. When they agreed that I should go ahead with the anniversary celebration, I planned to have it in Ikeja but they disagreed with my choice of venue. Then, there was no State Co-ordinator for Neighbourhood Watch, and according to the establishment stipulation, it was only the Governor that could appoint the coordinator.
When they later agreed that I should organize the anniversary at Ikorodu, I bought uniform and appointed co-ordinators for all the local government areas, which was not in their establishment’s stipulation for the watch. I invited government functionaries and urged them all to come and receive awards. The Governor sent Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa, who was the Head of Service at that time, and Alhaja Wonu Folami, daughter of Late Alhaji S.O. Gbadamosi, who was the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. About four of them came as well as the Commander of Operation Sweep. It was on the television broadcast that the Governor saw what happened at the ceremony and he quickly sent for me. He said they should match me to his office and it was one of our sons there, Jaiyesimi, who was Permanent Secretary, Governor’s office then that informed me about the development.
When I met the governor, he asked maybe I was an ex-police man or soldier and I replied that I was a Commandant in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. I told him it was Ikorodu Local Government that requested for my assistance on the watch. The Governor said he was highly impressed with what he saw on the TV screen and then asked me what he could do for me. I replied that at present, it was my personal car (Mercedes) that I was using for patrol in the night. I said if he could give me patrol vehicles, it would help me and he ordered the ministry to go and buy me station wagon Volvo and they bought it for me. He gave me a letter, appointing me as the State Co-ordinator and since then, we have been in full operation.
Thank God that when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came in, he invited all of us, both Operation Sweep and Neighbourhood Watch to the car park at Alausa Secretariat for a meeting. After addressing us, he changed the name of Operation Sweep to Rapid Response Squad and retained the name of Neighbourhood Watch. He observed that we were very helpful to the communities due to the fact that we are in every ward all over the state and we are really doing well. That time, we were not being given any money but sincerely, we were helping the state; no stipend at all. It was after seven or eight years of operation before they stated paying us, but we were performing our duty in the sense that we were helping our communities.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did a lot, because before he left office as Lagos State Governor, he extended the local government from twenty (20) to fifty seven (57). He ordered the Commissioner for Rural Development at that time, Prince Lanre Balogun, to buy and provide sixty three (63) patrol vehicles and about two hundred and fifty (250) motorcycles for us. It was then I knew that the Neighbourhood Watch was going to be something great. But personally, I decided to travel to United States to learn what Neighbourhood Watch really means, because we know that it is only United State and Britain that are practicing what we called Neighbourhood Watch.
I went to United States with my personal money. I attended so many seminars and from there, I got the real meaning of Neighbouhood Watch. On my arrival to Nigeria, I spread it all over this state. A lot of trainings were organized to all our people and thank God, they all grasped and we are doing our best. Initially, we were not accepted by the police but during the time of Mr. Mike Okiro as the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, and Prince Tunde Shobulo as the Operation officer, we were accepted. It was Mike Okiro that invited us to police headquarters and promised to work with us. He accommodated us and we worked together with the Nigeria police. We really enjoyed them and they enjoyed us as well.
While we got protective gadgets such as shocking batons and others, during Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola’s tenure as Governor, if I am not mistaken, the vehicles given to us was about forty (40). Now, to be sincere, Governor Akinwummi Ambode is impressing so many of us due to the way he handles security in the state. I pray that God should be with him and let him succeed. At present, I believe it is our turn to enjoy him, because at the last Quarterly Town Hall meeting of his administration, he promised better recognition and upliftment of Neighbourhood Watch. We are all happy to hear his pronouncement at the meeting that day, because for over a year now, we have not received anything from him; but we are hopeful. We are not discouraged due to the way he has been treating all other security agencies. We are very happy because if we give information to RRS now, before thirty (30) minutes, those who reported to us would call us back and say “Oga thank you o, Ahh! Police officers are here o.” The way RRS acts on our reports is very encouraging; so we are highly impressed.
Q: Sir, talking about Governor Ambode’s recent promise to recruit 5,000 people into the Neighbourhood Watch with N25,000 salary, besides the allowance, how do you think the employment process should be, especially now that graduates would join you?
A: In actual fact, arrangement is going on and we can see a lot of improvement in our organization. This is due to the fact that those who are at the helms of affair at the Ministry of Local Government and Communities Affairs, starting from the Special Adviser, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan; the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Babatunde Smith; the Director, Alhaja Ewuni, and the Senior Special Advicer, Alhaji Quadri, can depend on us to the extent that when the problem of the Niger-Delta militant surfaced here, I was there personal. I gave my report; they acted on it, and later appreciated me for doing a good job.
At RRS office, they all thanked me for a job well done. I am using this medium to thank the RRS Commander, Mr. Disu; he is a wonderful man. I have written to the Ministry that they should thank him on our behalf because of the way he treats our matters. The moment he hears any reports from the Neighbourhood Watch, he would immediately go into action, such as the one that happened in Epe just of recent. Immediately I reported to him, he sent six (6) vehicles. I saw them going and some of the policemen, who saw me; said to me that they were acting on my information. It impressed me a lot. So, that is why we gave Governor Ambode an award. The award means that he is the ‘Anointed Community Governor’. We believe that he is an anointed Governor because the way he handles Lagos State security issues is very fantastic, and we pray that God should assist him in all his initiatives.
Q: Talking about the Governor’s pronouncement to employ graduates into your outfit, don’t you foresee any challenge amongst the would be watchers and existing ones, considering the fact that most of the elderly people among the existing Watchers do not have the higher education qualifications?
A: What is called Neighbourhood Watch to the best of my knowledge, due to the fact that I have travelled oversea three times to acquire more knowledge in America and Britain, are people that are known to the public. They are the people, who don’t go out at all; what they do is to look through their windows, see things that are wrong and give immediate report to the police, and the police will switch into action without any delay. Therefore, we must not change it, elderly or not.
When the time Neighbouhood Watch was established in Lagos State, I met Governor Marwa and told him that the operational weapons of the watcher were not acceptable in our own areas. I said we are not used to bows and arrows and so on and so forth. What happened then was that at Lagos Island, some of the boys employed went for a certain ceremony and they attacked themselves with bows and arrows and two of them died. It was after the incident that Governor Marwa accepted that truly, this kind of thing was not good for Lagosians. Here in Lagos, if you hold a cutlass and you are walking from one street to another, anybody that sees you will run away and that is not in our custom; that is not Neighbourhood Watch.
If they say Neighbourhood Watch, try to understand the language. Neighbourhood Watch is to monitor your area. Whatever you see there, report it to the appropriate authority. They will not even know that you are the informant in your neighbourhood. That is what they call Neighbourhood Watch, and this thing requires elderly people and not younger ones. Let me inform you that, we are going to be twenty (20) years in existence by October 23, 2016. Tell me what offence you’ve ever or heard that we have committed?
You can never hear it on radio, television broadcast, newspaper or anywhere that some Neighbourhood Watchers are arrested for any misconduct or crime. We are proud of this, and this is achieved possibly because we maintain discipline in the Neighbourhood Watch. We also let our watchers know that we are only assisting the communities to engender security and not because of money. I told you earlier on that for almost seven (7) year,s we did not earn any salary;, we were not given anything.
Q: What I am trying to know is whether there won’t be any challenge by the time graduates join your security outfit, because the issue of educational qualification, authority and control may arise and already, there are elderly people among the existing watchers.
A: Well, let them employ anybody they want to employ; they will come and meet the protocol, and we are also going to tell them that this is what we have been doing for the past twenty (20) years, and there has not been any mistakes. So, automatically, they must follow the footsteps of existing members, not that somebody would come and say that I am a retired Major General or I am a retired Police Commissioner. No, not at all. We have an established protocol. For instance, if anything is happening or somebody invites us to an event, we first go there to investigate what is going on there. If we discover anything that may cause trouble, we quickly inform the police. So, I am not against the employment of graduates or anything. We have been established before KAI; we have been established before LASTMA; yet, they have dismissed so many people. In LASTMA and also in KAI. But how many did they dismiss in Neighbourhood Watch? Nobody. So, we are proud of that.
Q: Sir, in Ikorodu, the residents have been talking about the impact of the Onyabo local vigilante group in terms of the security of this division. It seems the work of the Neighbourhood Watch is not known to many. What do you think is responsible for this?
A: Onyabo! I was the one who documented them. During the reign of Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi of blessed memory, I invited them and documented their activities; this is Onyabo’s file with me. Before Onyabo, we were using the Odua People’s Congress (OPC); these are their pictures too. During that time, I monitored them and also had meetings with them often because we knew the type of people they were. They were vigilantes, who carried guns and so many offensive weapons but in Neighboourhood Watch, we don’t carry anything.
Then, for us to assist the community, my humble self and the then Divisional Police Officer here, Mr. Usman, wrote a paper for the Ayangbure Security Council. It is a by- law. Neighbourhood Watch then didn’t expect anybody to come and give us anything but Onyabo and OPC members believed that they were working and they must be paid and that it is the community that would pay them.
It was not easy for the members of the community to pay them because the collection of such money was difficult. Ikorodu community squad vigilante council was the inscription on the vehicles given to them then.
We let the people of Ikorodu understood that night guards are protecting them and they must be paid. To ensure prompt payment, a by-law was made. The-by-law, which is still in existence up till now in the local government, assisted a lot. If a member of the community refused to pay his/her security due then, he or she would be taken to court.
Q: Majorly, what does Neighbourhood Watch do to help security situation in Ikorodu?
A: Look, go and ask the DPOs; they regarded us more than any establishment because whatever we say ends up being the truth. We tell them what we see and we don’t exaggerate or fabricate report NDI and the DPOs do come here often, and also the RRS Commander often contact me.
Ikorodu is very safe and not Ikorodu alone but Lagos State in general. I have all my men all over the state and they are performing well. We maintain discipline and that is very important. Not that somebody will be saying I am a Neighbourhood watcher and begins to misbehave; No! We don’t allow that.
Q: As an Ex-Commandant in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, a security outfit, which its officers now carry arms, what are you doing to ensure that one day, Neighbourhood Watchers also carry arms?
A: If that is to be done, it is left to the state government, but at present, I so much love the way we are operating without arms and ammunition. This is because, you can see some policemen with arms misbehaving. In Neighbourhood Watch, we don’t carry arms. You see, we have the audacity and the opportunity to investigate whatever or whoever we are going to report. To me, I wish we maintain that. For instance, since the NSCDC had started carrying arms, do you know how many they have killed amongst them now? But there was nothing of such when they were not carrying arms.
Q: Don’t you see the inability of your men to use arms as a challenge, especially when they want to help the community during robbery attack, when the police are not on ground on time. Don’t you think provision of arms for your men would be of great assistance to their operation?
A: As for me, I am not in support of Neighbourhood Watchers carrying guns No! Not at all. What is causing major attacks on the police by armed robbers is the fact they know policemen carry guns with which they can attack them. That is why they would automatically attack any police officer on sight, but they know that we don’t carry guns. They don’t attack us because they don’t even know us and they don’t know our mission at a scene of an incident. Therefore, all what those with arms cannot get, we get them easily.
Q: Is it possible for the private individual or organisations to employ any of your members for security purpose?
A: Yes of course! Go to the General Hospitals now; you will see Neighbourhood Watchers there. Go to schools; you will see Neighbourhood Watchers working there.
Q: What is the process and the procedures of doing this and what about their payment?
A: You will go to the Ministry of Local Government and Communities Affairs and request for Neighbourhood Watchers in your establishment. Once we get the directive from the ministry, we would carry out investigation on your establishment and ascertain the type of watchers required there; is it male or female or elderly watcher.
Q: What is your membership strength presently because very soon, according to Governor Ambode, five thousand (5,000) people would be employed in the Neighbourhood Watch?
A: At present, we are over five thousand (5,000). We have two types of Neighbourhood Watchers;, we call some volunteers, which I am one of them. We also have some we call “Regulars”. Amongst the regulars, there are so many graduates and they are the people we post to General Hospitals, schools and other places. So, if you apply to us that you need a watcher, we would investigate in order to deploy to you the one that will serve you better.
Q: Since you started this work, what has been your major challenges?
A: There is nothing in this life that has no challenge, but what one should do is to be disciplined and have the fear of God. It goes a long way and that is exactly what I am doing; I am not after money. For instance, we are appealing to some people who are rich to assist those who are handicapped; we lecture them here. In actual fact, I am making a certain plan to invite all the Imams in Ikorodu and Lagos state as a whole here and appeal to them to preach to their followers to be God fearing in all of their dealings. Majority of them don’t have the fear God at hearts. All we are looking for is just money; that is why a whole family is being killed today. The fear of God is the best because if you get the money, even if you have trillion of dollars, it doesn’t protect you from death. You can get up in the morning hale and hearty and drop dead in the afternoon, and nobody is going to challenge God. So, if God says that you are going to be rich, you will be rich and if he says otherwise, that is exactly what will happen. So, you should know that no one can make you a rich man.
After the Imams, we shall organize the same for the pastors and bishops too. Also, I want to advise government to allow all the royal fathers to have in their various palaces, security committee, which should be out of politic; they can assist the government a lot. For instance, Lagos State Government has banned street trading or hawking but here Ikorodu, from Ebute to Ikorodu Garage, you will still see them. Look at the Okada riders and tricycles operators too; they ply restricted areas because they don’t fear God and government again. They don’t abide by the law, but if the royal fathers intervene, there would be solution. I remember that during the reign of late Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Salaudeen A. A. Oyefusi, we used to have security meeting every month in the palace. People from different locations would come and give reports about happenings in their areas. Oba Oyefusi would then send for anyone reported to have done something wrong and automatically, such person would heed the warning of the monarch. Today, there is nothing of such, and if such initiative is given priority across the various communities, it could help the security of the state.
Q: What can you tag as your achievements in this profession, so far?
A: I have achieved a lot, and at the end, I have the believe that God answers my prayers because there was a time I reported a case to the police in Lagos and in retaliation, the armed robbers came here, in front of my office, and started shooting sporadically into the air, and I was sitting in my office. Who protected me? God. Is that not part of blessing, considering the fact that so many incidents like that had happened. During the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we went for an operation and before I returned home, they had invaded my house at Ita-Elewa. They destroyed everything in my sitting room, bed room and other parts of the house. Thank God, I was not at home; I could have been killed by now. That is part of my achievements and that is part of the protection God has given me. So, I have achieved a lot.
Q: Kidnapping and cultism have become the current trends in this state; what do you think is responsible for these and what solution can you proffer?
A: Let me tell you something about cultism. About four years ago, when this cultism is getting too much during the government of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, I called my Commissioner then on the issues. Opemolua of Ikate happened to be the head of the traditionalists then, and I suggested to them that they should let us meet him because these cultists are not Muslims or Christians, they regarded themselves as traditionalists. So, when I met the Commissioner, and he met the Governor, the Governor said that if we go to these people, they might be demanding for some amount of money before they would do anything. They said as an elderly person, if I could go there by myself, they would approve it. I demanded a letter and I was given. I wrote a letter to Opemolua, (this current Opemolua), that I wanted to meet him and he agreed. He then gave us a date and we went there.
When we got there, he was very surprised. He asked me the purpose of the visit and I told him it was because of these cultists, that the way they were killing themselves was disheartening. I said as the head of the traditionalists, he should help us out by talking to all the royal fathers to allow me come to their various communities and tell them (the cultists) that this cultism must stop and that if they don’t stop, drastic actions would be taken against them. Before man and God, that man still earns my respects up till today because three days later, he went on air and he made a broadcast message that cultism must stop and if they don’t stop, we (the Neighbourhood Watch) would be monitoring all the state, and within a month, cultism went down. Governor Fashola had to call me and thank me for that feat. That is part of our achievements and that is what Neighbourhood Watch is all about; nobody knew then that I did such a thing.
Q: What about the issue of kidnapping because even traditional rulers are being kidnapped these days?
A: What we must understand is that if anything happened somewhere and you investigate it very well, you will discover that insiders are behind it. Fortunately, the issue is being resolved through Governor Ambode’s strategic approach and I believe that within six (6) months, by the grace of God, there will be no more kidnapping in this state.
Q: You have been talking about Governor Ambode, that he is doing a lot in terms of protecting this state by putting good security measures on ground. Precisely, what do you want the Governor to do for you; which area of your operations do you want his attention in order to help your watchers?
A: He has already promised us patrol vehicles, motorcycles and also to equip us. If that is done, it is enough. In addition, I have also mentioned to you earlier that the entire Ministry of Local Government and Communities Affairs is giving a lot of support. We really appreciate them, starting from the Commissioner, the S.A, the P.S, the Director; each and every one of them, the way they are treating us is fantastic. It is not that they are giving us money but the reception they give us is very good and I am highly impressed.
Q: From your own perspective, how would you describe Governor Akinwunmi Ambode? And you, as an indigene of Ikorodu, who is HRM Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi?
A: We gave the award, ‘Anointed Governor’ to Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode because we so much believe that he is a God sent. You can see the various developmental and laudable steps and policies of his administration within one year in office. May God continue to help him and also continue to give him all the needed supports.
Concerning HRM Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, the people of Ikorodu should just count themselves very lucky to have him as our new monarch due to the great development we are all witnessing under his reign.
A lot of development is going on in Ikorodu; we can attest to that because we comb every nook and cranny of Ikorodu. If you get to some areas, you will be surprised by the type of marvelous buildings you will see. Therefore, everybody should support Lagos State Governor so that he can achieve more successes for our betterment. Also, Ikorodu people, both indigenes and non-indigenes, should all rally round Oba Shotobi and give him all the support because he is ready to take Ikorodu to a greater height.
Q: What is your message to all Neighbourhood watchers in the State?
A: To all Neighbourhood Watchers, I am proud of you. No corner that I move to, whatever instruction or directive I give, you always comply. Therefore, I am very happy that our organization is highly disciplined. I am proud of that.
Q: What is your message to all Lagosians regarding the security of lives and properties?
A: If you observe that something is going wrong anywhere or in your vicinity, don’t hesitate to contact the appropriate authority on time. You can call the toll free Telephone lines (112 or 767) to report to them, and immediate action would be taken.