Community policing gradually takes roots in Nigeria – IGP | Tellwell Newspaper
Tellwell Newspaper, Abuja – Nigeria:
From Atiku Galadima, Maiduguri
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has said that community policing was gradually taking roots in addressing internal security challenges in the country.
Baba was speaking in Maiduguri on Wednesday at a two-day capacity building workshop for 300 community policing stakeholders in the Northeast.
“Community policing is undoubtedly a way to go in a drive to effectively address the complex and dynamic challenges of crimes and mitigate the challenges of internal security realities”, said Baba.
According to him, the community policing strategy as approved by the Federal Government was gradually taking roots in Nigeria and warmly embraced by strategic partners across the country.
Represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ibrahim Zanna, Baba said lamented recent incidents where Community Policing Officers exploited their status with disregard to the limitations of their authority by making “unjustified requests” and unruly behavior functions, thereby embarrassing the Federal Government and the Police Force.
“The brains behind such misconducts were promptly identified and dealt with in line with the ethical standards that they are bound by,” he said.
He noted that, the aim of community policing was to bring police closer to the people at the grassroots which would help in protecting lives and properties of Nigerians in all levels.
“The concept is to bring community closer to the police with the goal of improving the quality of lives in our communities.
“We must partner with the community to know where crime is taking place otherwise we are going to fail.
He urged people in the Northeast to partner with the members of community policing to identify criminals within their localities.
Also speaking, the Borno state governor Babagana Zulum explained that the community policing had immensely helped in restoring security situation in Borno which led to the formation of Civilian Joint Task Force in the state.
On his part, the commissioner of police, Borno State Command Abdu Umar commended IGP for organising the workshop, adding that it would help in strengthening mutual understanding between the police and members of community.
In his keynote address, the Commissioner of Police, Yobe state command, G. G. Haruna described community policing as key in achieving the needed peace in the Northeast.
