The Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Hon. Akinpelu Ibrahim Johnson, has expressed gratitude to God, security agencies, and other security stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and hitch-free Eid-ul-Kabir celebration across the council area.
Speaking during the monthly Peace and Security Meeting, the Chairman also raised concerns over the increasing spread of fake news and false security alarms, describing the trend as a serious threat to public safety and social harmony.
According to Hon. Johnson, some individuals have developed the habit of circulating misleading information and old videos of violent incidents from other countries or previous years, falsely portraying them as current events in order to create fear and panic among residents. “It is becoming a disturbing trend for some people to raise false alarms by sharing unverified and misleading information, especially videos of incidents that occurred years ago or in other countries, and presenting them as recent events. This act is irresponsible, dangerous, and capable of causing unnecessary panic,” he said.
The Chairman called on Community Development Associations (CDAs), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the League of Imams to sensitise their members and discourage the culture of forwarding messages without proper verification. He also urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public enlightenment campaigns against the spread of misinformation.
“Fake information has triggered communal and tribal conflicts in some places. We must nip this menace in the bud. The Police and other relevant agencies should strengthen efforts to curb the spread of false information,” he added.
Hon. Johnson further reiterated concerns over the activities of scavengers operating within communities, noting that some have been linked to criminal activities. He urged residents and community leaders to deny them access to their neighbourhoods, stressing that their services are no longer necessary due to the presence of licensed Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators.
Other stakeholders at the meeting also lent their voices to the discussion, the Legal Officer of Alimosho Local Government, Mr. Taiwo Olayinka, commended the Chairman’s proactive approach to security matters and disclosed that “Operation Flush” had been established to rid the local government of criminal elements. He also proposed the creation of a 10-man vigilante team that would work alongside various security agencies to strengthen surveillance and improve community safety.
However, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Afonka Police Station, CSP O.A. Ojajumi, offered a different perspective, emphasizing that effective security begins with community cooperation and timely information sharing with security agencies.
Also speaking, the Onishasha of Shasha, Oba Nosiru Babatunde Ogunronbi, advocated stronger collaboration among landlords, Community Development Associations (CDAs), and Community Development Committees (CDCs) in addressing security challenges.
“For me, whenever I see scavengers operating within my domain, I seize their carts. Landlords must work closely with community leaders because some of these cart pushers are involved in criminal activities, including theft. This is a serious issue that requires collective action,” the monarch stated.
The meeting also highlighted the local government’s ongoing efforts to regulate the activities of estate agents accused of exploiting residents through excessive and arbitrary charges such as agency fees, caution fees, and damage fees.
The council disclosed that it is working closely with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) to ensure that all practising estate agents are properly registered and compliant with regulatory requirements.
It was unanimously agreed that any estate agent found operating outside the provisions of the law would face prosecution in accordance with existing regulations.
