National Police Day: Lagos CP Urges NURTW Members to Reject Cultism and Uphold Electoral Integrity
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
As part of activities commemorating this year’s National Police Day, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, led a delegation of senior officers, including Area Commanders, on a sensitization visit to Ojota Motor Park on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The team engaged with drivers and officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the dangers of electoral violence and cultism, reports the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
Comrade Olawale Ajilo, Chairman of the State Advisory Committee of the NURTW, represented the union’s Chairman at the event alongside branch chairmen and members.
During the programme, CP Fatai Tijani delivered an in-depth lecture on the provisions of the Electoral Act, highlighting electoral offences such as vote buying and selling, electoral violence, ballot box snatching, impersonation, multiple voting, voter intimidation, and illegal possession of electoral materials. He emphasized the far-reaching consequences of these offences on Nigeria’s democratic stability and urged citizens, particularly drivers, to uphold the rule of law and support peaceful elections.
The Commissioner also addressed the dangers of cultism, stressing that while the Police enforce the law and apprehend offenders, public sensitization remains a critical part of crime prevention.
Speaking on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Officer-in-Charge of the Gender Unit, ACP Oluwatoyin Kazeem, explained that domestic violence disrupts peace within families and the wider society. She warned that acts such as denying a spouse money for household needs, sexual harassment, and rape are punishable by law, highlighting that rape involving minors under three years of age carries severe penalties. ACP Kazeem also noted that men could be victims of sexual harassment and emotional abuse, which are equally prosecutable.
The Officer-in-Charge, Motorpol 1, CSP Alli Yemisi, guided NURTW members on safe driving tactics. She urged drivers to wear their NURTW jackets for identification, obey traffic regulations, and maintain discipline on the roads. CSP Alli emphasized that the Police aim to collaborate with drivers, rather than arrest them, to promote road safety.
On cultism, Area M Commander, ACP Tokunboh Abaniwonda, explained that cultism is often carried out in secrecy and is fueled by alcohol and substance abuse. He stressed that NURTW members should avoid involvement in cult activities and report any suspicious behavior, noting that Lagos State does not offer amnesty to cultists, who are actively prosecuted.
The Lagos State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to continuous public enlightenment and community engagement as key strategies to promote safety, build public trust, and ensure a secure environment for all.
