NO fewer than 200 community vigilante members have been trained on community policing strategies by Community Development Committee (CDC), a grassroots group supported by Global Rights and Kukah Centre (GRKC) in Sokoto State.
Speaking on the occasion, CDC’s chairman, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, said the training was aimed at strengthening vigilantes’ capacities, understanding and working relationship with the statutory security agencies and community members.
Umar-Jabbi said that the participants were drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state, while officers from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Department of State Services (DSS) were engaged for discussions and experience sharing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar-Jabbi underscored the importance of enhancing community policing strategies among citizens, in recognition of the fact that the number of security agents policing, the communities were few and needed to be complemented by the public.
According to him, vigilantes are community volunteers with no proper training and financial support, in spite of their efforts at safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens.
Umar-Jabbi enjoined leaders and community groups to support the vigilante groups in their respective domains, stressing that their services were desirable and needed guides in order to achieve success.
In his presentation, Mr Peter Daniel, from DSS, Sokoto State command, dwelt on the information and communication techniques for early warning as well as community engagement for sustainable information sharing.
CSP AbdulAziz Baura, who represented the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Hayatu Kaigama, urged participants to always relate with the divisional police officers (DPOs) in their respective areas on security issues.
The CDC secretary, Ms Sadiya Bello, who spoke on women inclusion for sustainable development and resilience in security issues, called on husbands and community leaders to always understand women’s conditions and ensure their economic empowerment.
Ms Magret Amadu, from Global Rights, assured participants of more support in enhancing community engagements.
Amadu commended the organisation and other stakeholders for their commitment to security issues in the state.
Leader of the vigilantes in the state, Mallam Muratala Aminu, expressed appreciation for the training which he said will further enhance their activities and solicited for more support from government, individuals and groups.
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