Community policing boosts security operations against crime

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the North Central geographical zone, Shuaibu Lawal Gambo, has identified community policing as a necessary tool for tackling insecurity

The DIG made the assertion at a security stakeholders meeting held at the headquarters of the Kogi state police command in Lokoja on Tuesday.

He disclosed that his visit to the state was on the directive of the Inspector General of Police to interact with major stakeholders in various police commands within the North Central zone on the way forward towards ensuring security of lives and property of citizens.

Gambo called on communities across the country and Kogi state in particular to rise up to the challenges of ensuring effective participation in crime prevention and combating to complement governments efforts.

“Your cooperation in giving the security operatives useful information will assist the police to track down criminal elements. The essence of the periodical meeting with the security stakeholders in the zone is to ensure that the police come closer to the people with a view to discussing the security of their immediate communities”the
deputy Inspector General of police emphasised.

He lauded the Federal government commitment towards the provision of manpower in the security sector to address the alarming shortages of personnel across the country.

Gambo also commended the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for procuring 104 patrol vehicles and other communication gadgets for the police to assist them in the discharge of their duties.

Traditional rulers who were participants complained of shortage of Police personal and equipment,a situation has given rise to sporadic criminality especially in the rural areas.

Olubunu of Bunu Oba Joseph Kusemore alleged that robbers operate side by side with police men on the high ways both collecting money from people. He said that the police in his domain have no moral courage to combat crime.

Other speakers however commended the state police commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu, and expressed confidence in the leadership of the Inspector General Idris Ibrahim.