The Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), has urged Nigerians to support the police in the fight against crime.
Olubolade made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a workshop organised by the Community Policing Campaign of Nigeria (CPCN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) seeking to foster communal efforts at crime prevention.
Represented by Mrs Lauren Braide, Head of Community Policing Department of the ministry, the minister said community policing was informed by the need to end the issues leading to crime at the community level.
He said it was necessary for active collaboration between the police and the public to bring the spate of crime in the society to the barest minimum.
Olubolade noted that the promotion of societal core values and partnership with the police and other security agencies would enhance? intelligence gathering and prevent crime.
“Security is everybody’s business, and should not be left alone for the government.
“The Federal Government through the Ministry of Police Affairs has strengthened the intelligence gathering capacity of the Nigeria Police Force through adequate training and re-training of officers locally and abroad.''
He said that the ministry had also implemented a number of programmes and policies on community policing.
“These policy initiatives were not only intended to strengthen the police/community relationship, but also to map out strategies through which the police and members of communities can work together to control and prevent crime,’’ he said.
The minister advised the NGO to conduct its activities within the established rules and regulations as it sought to build a strong network within local communities.
Earlier, Mr Dennis Oribhabor, the Director-General of the NGO, said the workshop was to help change the orientation of the populace to security issues, especially as it affects the image of the country.
Oribhabor said “with the persistent security challenges in some parts of the country, the place of community policing cannot be over emphasised.
“It is, therefore, pertinent to envolve a strategy to engage community-driven policing initiative for effective intelligence gathering and crime prevention.''?
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