Olusegun Adeyemo
A retired Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State and legal practitioner, Dr Olayinka Balogun, has called for stronger collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the public to ensure security, peace, and development in Nigeria.
In an interview with The Journal Nigeria, Balogun, who also serves as a Consultant on Community Policing and Technical Adviser on Human Rights Violations and Allied Infractions for the Police Service Commission, stressed that policing must always be anchored on the rule of law and community participation.
“The policeman has a duty to perform, but members of the public also have a duty to assist the police in achieving their mandate. The aim is security and equilibrium within the society,” he said.
Balogun underscored that without security, no society can function effectively.
“A society that has no security cannot exist,” he warned. “If law is not enforced, there will be chaos. And if there is chaos, there will be no peace. Without peace, there can be no development.”
Reflecting on his years of service, Balogun noted that while crime and policing have evolved with population growth and new trends, the fundamentals of law enforcement remain unchanged.
“What we were doing back then, we were doing using the law. Today, some are still doing the same. The law is constant,” he explained.
On recent protests by police officers over the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), Balogun chose his words carefully, acknowledging the importance of retirement benefits but declining to take a personal stance.
“Every policeman, every civil servant wants to enjoy their retirement and the benefits that come with it. If there’s a problem between the government and its servants, it’s not just the police. Everybody wants a good lof. But I don’t have a personal opinion to offer because I’m still an insider,” he said.
He commended the Police Service Commission, under the leadership of retired DIG Hashim Agungu, for sustaining efforts in human rights and community policing, which continue to keep him actively engaged even in retirement.
Balogun concluded by urging both the police and citizens to share responsibility for upholding law and order, insisting that peace, justice, and security are the foundation of sustainable national development.