IGP seeks public support through community policing to curb criminality

IGP seeks public support through community policing to curb criminality

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Alkali Usman, on Wednesday advocated for public support through community policing, to curb the security challenges in the country.

Usman made the call while declaring open a two-day Training Workshop for Stakeholders of Community Policing, organized for Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Jigawa states in Sokoto.

The IGP, represented by Head of Intelligent Unit of the Force Headquarters, AIG Ahmad Sani, reiterated police authority’s commitment on containing internal security.

He said community policing was initiated to address challenging dynamism of crimes, taking its root causes toward enhancing internal security moves.

He noted that the training will equip commissioned officers to be sufficiently guided as well as improve their capacity to ensure successful engagements.

The IGP enjoined officers and community policing engaged personnel to be guided by patriotism not to jeopardize integrity of the force and nation at large.

He added that no fewer than 300 participants were expected from police formations and community members from the states.

Speaking also, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, described community policing as key to intelligence gathering, while intelligence gathering was key to curtailing insecurity in every society.

“Credible intelligence can only be gathered through collaboration between the police and their host communities,” he said.
He said community policing is rooted in the history of Police service, stressing that Nigeria should adopt the strategy as obtained in the other developed nations.

The commissioner, therefore, solicited the support and collaboration of traditional rulers and other community members in tackling security challenges in the country.

A Resource Person, Mr Ahmad Magaji, underscored the importance of community policing and urged Nigerians to cooperate with law enforcement agencies as they were inadequate to contain challenges.
Magaji described community policing as a major tool in bridging the gap between the police and their host communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that different topics were lined up for presentation by resource persons. They included principles of community policing, legal and institutional framework, operational structures and human rights among others.

IGP seeks public support through community policing to curb criminality