Community Policing Officers can deal with & resolve low-level security issues without resorting to Police Stations  – IGP.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has said that under the Community Policing implementation strategies of the Federal government,  the grassroots community Policing officers are to deal with, and resolve low – level security issues without necessarily resorting to Police Stations unless the issue is of serious legal and security consequences and require police intervention.

“The idea is to improve the capacity of communities to develop solutions to local security problems, working closely with their local police”, the IGP said.

Speaking at the Strategic Police Managers meeting he summoned at Force headquarters, IGP Adamu said,

“This meeting is convened to review the current internal security situation of the country, evaluate strategies to curtail them. Secondly, we shall be undertaking a detailed assessment of the implementation of the community Policing strategy as approved by the Federal government”.

“Thirdly, we shall also assess the progress so far made in our overall internal security activities”.

“The recent incidents of armed banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery most especially in Kaduna, Niger, Kogi, Katsina and Zamfara states have prompted the need for the full and speedy roll – out of the community Policing strategy across the country.

“Accordingly, as conceptualized, formulated, and approved by the government, the current effort will be citizen – centered and drive  by members of each community.

“The plan will involve the setting up of community Policing committees (CPCs) at the Ward, Local Government and State levels including the Federal Capital Territory.

“The committees when inaugurated, are to identify credible and suitable citizens from across each locality for appointment as Special Constables who will serve as Community Policing Officers (CPOs).

“The committees are also expected to identify the security challenges peculiar to their communities and partner with the local police in formulating plans that would mitigate the challenges.

The IGP continued, “It is our projection that when fully operational, the citizens would be in control of their security with the guidance of the Police and the Committees, while the Nigeria Police would then concentrate on the management of violent and other highly organized crimes with a view to pro-actively responding to them in a manner that gender public confidence, trust, and public satisfaction in Police Service delivery”.

“Faced with increasingly sophisticated and enterprising criminal threats, our community Policing approach recognizes that the police alone, as a law enforcement agency, does not have the exclusive capacity to solely manage the security threats. Thus, a multy-agency and citizens-driven approach remains the most potent strategy to deal with the current trends of crime.”

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