Oyo State Gov, Engineer Oluseyi Makinde inaugurated the Oyo State Community Policing Advisory Committee.
The initiative is of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to get policing closer to the people.
The committee is made up of traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and members of our security agencies.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Research and Planning (R&P), DIG Leye Oyebade,mni in his address maintained that the adoption of the Community Policing Strategy will help in mitigating the challenges of Internal Security in Nigeria.
DIG. Oyebade who doubles as the Supervising Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Southwest Geo-Political Zone noted that the Nigeria Police Force which is a security quarters saddled with the responsibility to be a leading national, professional, efficient law enforcement organization after getting an approval from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Pres. Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, IGP. Muhammad Adamu has taken a bold step to commence Community Policing in all states across the federation to fix security loopholes.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides succinctly in Section.14 (2) (b) that the ‘security and welfare of the people shall be primary purpose of government’.
“It is in realization of this important constitutional provision and fundamental requirement that the present government is taking bold and pragmatic steps in its quest to ensure safety of its citizens.
“To guarantee safety and strengthen internal security requires a security road map hence the adoption of Community Policing as ‘an aid to conventional policing strategy’.
“Community Policing as a policing model rests on the philosophy and principles of public partnership, intelligence gathering and inter/multi – agency collaboration.
Consequent upon the approval by the President, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, NPM, mni, has directed that the scheme should take off in all the states across the country.
It is envisioned that the full implementation of the Community Policing will help address or mitigate the security challenges currently confronting us as a nation.
The project is therefore one that is very dear to the Nigeria Police Force whose vision is ‘to be a leading national, professional, efficient law enforcement organization’ as it boldly steps out on a genuine mission ‘to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities, protect and respect human rights, and promote community partnership in preventing and controlling social order’.”
The Police Chief further buttressed that the Community Policing Project is of three stages which begins with proper sensitization as ordered by the Inspector General of Police, while the second stage is the implementation and set up of stakeholders committee which will comprises of a representative each from security agencies, the government, Religious Organizations, traditioner rulers, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), PCRC, and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) .
“These committees include the State Community Policing Advisory Committee, the State community Policing Committee, Area Command Community Policing Advisory Committee, Local Government Community Policing Advisory Committee and the Divisional Community Policing Committee. After the implementation stage comes the recruitment of Special Constables, and finally, training and kitting.” He added.
The State Community Policing Advisory Committee which he described as the ‘custodian of community policing in the state’ will hence hold meetings on policy matters on monthly and quarterly basis and will report to the Governor of their respective states.
Oyebade further explained that Prominent actors will help in modeling the success of the projects and state governors shall takes the project’s driver’s seat, hoping that the inaugurated committee will not betray the confidence reposed in them.
