By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has canvassed cooperation and support of residents in communities for the community policing scheme introduced by the federal government to aid fight against crimes in the country to work.
The Governor said the people should see security as a collective business that involves everyone if the desire to rid the society off crimes is to be realised.
He gave the advice on Tuesday when he inaugurated the state Community Policing Advisory Committee (CPAC) to herald the commencement of the scheme in the state.
Abdulrazaq said that the success of the scheme would depend on everyone offering their support for all efforts to combat crimes.
“I believe that community policing is an idea that is long due as our country tackles varying security challenges. It focuses more on using intelligence and constant interactions with the community folks to prevent crimes. However, what this means is that the success of this idea lies in everybody seeing security as our collective business,” he stated.
The Governor said it was imperative that the law enforcement agencies build relationships with communities with a view to creating partnerships and strategies to curb crimes and disorder.
Abdulrazaq who said that community policiing was long overdue in the country assured the advisory committee of support of his administration to make the take off of the policing a huge success.
“In February this year, our administration held a multi-stakeholder security dialogue on strengthening the existing security architecture in the state and exploring community initiatives. While recommendations from the dialogue have shaped our approach to security issues, this advisory committee will serve as another platform to engage local communities on matters of safety,” he said.
“Members of this committee are hereby assured of our cooperation and support to make the take off of community policing a huge success in Kwara State. Our security team will constantly engage with the Advisory Committee to strengthen cooperation with the Kwara communities to build mutual trust and create an environment that is hostile to crimes,” he stated.
The Advisory Committee majorly comprises Head of the State Traditional Council (Chairman); the police commissioner (Co-chairman); heads of the various security agencies in the states; heads of Police Community Relations Committee; representatives of each senatorial district; and a representative each of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Kwara State Police Commissioner, Kayode Egbetokun, urged members of the committee not to put their respective interests above the interest of the committee but provide solutions to criminal activities in the state.
“Let us all be committed to the goal of the committee which is to sit together and find solutions to crime problems in the state,” he said.
Egbetokun commended the Governor for his continuous support for the police and other security agencies in the state.
Yunana Babas, Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone Eight which comprises Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti States, noted that the nation’s security challenges necessitated the inauguration of the advisory committee.
“The successful implementation of the committee largely depends on the cooperation of members of the committee. Members are therefore implored to put in their very best and work assiduously to the realisation of the objectives and desired benefits of the programme,” he stated.