Community policing gets a boost as IGP, minister others back Agitations in Nasarawa

By David Odama

The agitations for community policing has received a boost as the Minister of state, Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun canvassed support for the establishment of community police in the country.

They have equally urged stakeholders in Nasarawa state to support the move for the establishment of community police across the 13 local government of the state.

Speaking during the Renewed Hope Agenda Citizens Town Hall Engagement tagged “Community Policing: Building A Safer Nigeria Together”, in Nasarawa state, the Minister said establishment of community police will strengthen the capacity of policing, tackle issues of criminality and create a peaceful environment in the state.

According to the minister, the agenda set aimed at implementing a community policing strategy is designed based on local peculiarities and considerations with the full participation of the various communities.

She further explained that the ministry in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development had initiated a strategic branding campaign to cultivate a positive and contemporary image for the Nigeria Police Force.

“Today’s stakeholders town hall meeting is a paradym and significant shift in our approach to policing. As we are all aware, Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended puts the security and welfare of our people as the government’s priority.

“The Constitution, the Police Act of 2020, and the National Security Strategy go further to position the Nigeria Police Force as the lead in internal security.

“As a responsible government, therefor, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has placed security at the centre of the administration’s eight point agenda, and we have commenced the implementation of the Renewed Hope Police Agenda, which will ensure that our police force is strategically positioned to fulfil its mandate.”

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Dasuki Galadamci, said all efforts by the police Force were geared towards ensuring quality service delivery and the tracking down of criminal across the state and Nigeria at large.

“Without safety and security, there will be no meaningful development. We have decided to use local solutions to solve our local problems. Community policing is a strategy and we have adopted it to tackle security issues in communities,” the IGP declared.

Earlier, the National Vice-chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Otuonunyo Kenneth, urged members of the public to always support the police in all ramifications to carry out their assignments, disclosing that inadequate manpower was one of the major challenges affecting police operations.

“We all know in this country that the police are understaffed. They work 24 hours to provide security for the people. They need all our support and encouragement. We should always correct them in love because they are making a lot of sacrifices to provide security for the people,” he said.

Also speaking, Governor Abdullahi Sule in his welcome address, pledged the state government’s continued commitment towards supporting the police with necessary logistics to carry out their responsibilities without any hitches, noting that security is everyone’s responsibility.

“Security is not just the responsibility of the police or the government. It is everyone’s responsibility,” Sule said.

He called for the engagement of traditional rulers, community leaders, and religious leaders in policing activities adding that the engagement with stakeholders will lead to a reduction in security challenges in the state.

“The engagement will help us to understand the challenges and develop strategies to address the Challenges confronting the Nation”.