Security Expert and Public Safety Advocate Moruf Yusuf, popularly known as Ojogbon, has cautioned Nigerians against harbouring criminals or concealing stolen property, warning that such actions not only attract legal consequences but also undermine public safety and the administration of justice.
In Series #110 of The Secure Mind, titled "Harbouring a Criminal Is a Crime," Yusuf stressed that every citizen has a shared responsibility to support efforts aimed at preventing crime and protecting lives and property.
According to him, criminals often depend on the assistance of friends, relatives or acquaintances who knowingly provide them with shelter, hide stolen items or help them evade arrest. Such actions, he noted, embolden criminal activities and make it more difficult for security agencies to maintain law and order.
Yusuf explained that individuals who knowingly conceal suspects, receive or keep stolen property, or deliberately obstruct the work of law enforcement agencies may also be liable under the law. He urged members of the public to distance themselves from criminal activities and refuse to benefit from the proceeds of crime.
He further encouraged citizens to promptly report suspicious movements, criminal behaviour and information that could assist security agencies in preventing or solving crimes. According to him, timely and responsible reporting plays a vital role in strengthening community security and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.
The security expert noted that lasting peace and security can only be achieved when communities work hand in hand with law enforcement agencies, adding that silence or complicity often allows criminal networks to thrive.
Yusuf emphasised that protecting offenders out of fear, family ties, financial gain or misplaced loyalty ultimately places innocent lives at risk and weakens society's collective fight against crime.
He urged Nigerians to cultivate a culture of accountability, integrity and civic responsibility, stressing that every individual has a role to play in creating safer neighbourhoods and a more secure nation.
"Harbouring criminals or stolen property attracts legal consequences and weakens community security."
Moruf Yusuf, also known as Ojogbon, is a Security Expert and Public Safety Advocate committed to promoting security awareness through The Secure Mind series. He is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (ANIPR), Member of the Institute of Security, Nigeria (MISN), Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration (FCAI), Fellow of the Institute of Information Management (FIIM), and Member of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (MSPSP).
He concludes every edition with his enduring message:
"Just be good. Reflect. Stay alert."
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