Community policing, best in crime prevention ― IGP Mohammed

The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has said that community policing strategy, if well implemented, will yield the expected result in the collective approach to fighting crimes in the society.

The IGP who was represented by the AIG, Zone Three, Haliru Abubakar Gwandu, added that community policing will mitigate youth violence and restlessness which he identified as major issues in crime prevention among the people.

Mohammed Adamu, speaking in Gombe on Monday at the inauguration of Gombe State Community Policing Advisory Committee said that “the strategy which will be citizens centred will also involve setting up committees at the Local Governments and Ward levels”.

The IGP added that “The committee after this inauguration will identify credible citizens from across each locality for appointments as Special Constable who will serve the community and complement the effort of the Police”.

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While inaugurating the committee, Gombe State governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, called on all stakeholders on security in the state to do the needful to prevent an escalation of insecurity from other parts of the North into Gombe.

Inuwa Yahaya declared that Gombe State had remained relatively peaceful despite being surrounded by states ravaged by the insurgency in the North-East geopolitical zone but stressed that more needs to be done to prevent what is happening within the region and even the banditry in the North-Western part of the country.

He also said that community policing needs to be strengthened and made more effective, as such, all stakeholders including security agents, traditional, religious, community leaders and other segments of the society must all come together to work out the best way to secure the people.

The governor further said that, with security as its top priority, his government will not leave any stone unturned by supporting all efforts in strengthening the security of lives and property of the citizenry to prevent anarchy.

Inuwa Yahaya then promised to give all the necessary support to the committee under the chairmanship of the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, who will be assisted by the Gombe State Police Commissioner, Ahmed Maikudi Shehu as co-chair.

While speaking earlier in a welcome address, Gombe State Police Commissioner, Ahmed Maikudi Shehu, stated that the Command needs a CCTV for effective coordination of its operations, particularly within the state capital.

According to him, “the Command is not adequately covered with communication networks. It has no CCTV surveillance system for effective coordination of operations and monitoring”.

He further complained that ” presently, only Gombe metropolis is reliably covered by two way UHF radio communication system a development which he says makes coordination of operations for effective crime prevention very difficult.”

The Police Commissioner then appealed for collaboration from members of the public and to be vigilant about situations around them making sure that they report any suspicious movement to the security agencies in the state because according to him, Security is everybody’s business.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE