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Community policing, symbiotic relationship between police, public, says IGP
By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has described community policing as a symbiotic relationship between the police and members of the public.
He noted that the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) was focused at institutionalising community policing as a key framework in fighting crime in society.
Adamu stated that community policing was a strategic philosophy, aimed at strengthening the police-community partnership.
The IGP said this Thursday at Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre, Airport Road, Benin, during the mass sensitisation of members of the public on community policing in the South-south zone, with the theme: “Understanding Community Policing: A Framework for Action,” organised by NPF.
Adamu, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector-General Police (AIG), Zone 6, Zaki Ahmed, described community policing as a problem-solving technique, aimed at improving service delivery of the police to members of the public.
He said: “Community policing is part of the police duties in the protection of lives and property. It is a crime-solving strategy that is people oriented. It also involved an innovative way to addressing community concerns.
“Community policing is designed to set a new partnership and cooperation between the police and the people. This partnership is aimed at bringing the police to the grassroots and involvement of stakeholders and participation of very instrument of security and safety, which affect all strata of the society.”
Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, in his remarks, expressed the state government’s readiness to partner with the police in securing lives and property, through community policing.
Obaseki, who was represented by his deputy, Philip Shaibu, pointed out that in partnering with the police, community leaders had a major role to play
He said: “Edo State has been in front burner in community policing and has been advocating it.”
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One of the facilitators of the programme, Issa Aremu, had earlier stated that with the myriads of insecurity bedeviling Nigeria, community policing should be seen as a necessity.
Aremu noted that Nigeria needed to stop agonising, but to tackle the insecurity.
Edo Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Oyenude Kure, in his goodwill message, urged authorities concern to give more push to community policing, with a view to making it a reality in the society.
Kure implored the police authorities to recruit more personnel, stressing that the officers and men presently in the NPF could not secure the over 200 million Nigerians.
The Chief Imam of Benin, Sheikh Abdulfatah Enabulele, while also speaking, noted that community policing could not be over-emphasised and that the initiative was long overdue.
Sheikh Enabulele urged the police authorities to deploy officers to their states and local governments of origin, thereby knowing the terrains very well and adequately tackling insecurity.
