* Governor Obaseki * Pix source :Nigerian Infopedia
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has secured the backing of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for its community policing scheme.
This is part of efforts to address security challenges facing the state also known as the Heartbeat of the Nation.
The governor made this known today while inaugurating the Edo State Community Policing Advisory Committee (SCPAC) and Edo State Community Policing Committee at the Government House, Benin City.
Obaseki stated that the present administration was committed to the protection of lives and property of ordinary citizens of the state.
He also stated that there was no form of invasion of Edo State by armed bandits or any other militia group.
The setting up of SCPAC and the SCPC, Obaseki said marked another step toward the actualisation of the grassroots policing system in the state, adding that that Edo would be a model of community policing in Nigeria.
The Edo State Chief Security Officer stated aid that the dwindling revenue at all levels of government means that the Federal Government would have less to fund the Federal Police, hence the need for the community policing.
He said the state government has already started as it plans to integrate community policing arrangement into an existing security structure in the state for maximum result.
He advised members of the committee not to use the platform to advance their personal agenda, assuring that the state government would continue to invest in the training and welfare of security officers.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu described community policing as a re-invention of an old model, where communities were considered frontline stakeholders in security of the society.
The IGP, who was represented by Deputy Inspector of General of Police, South-South, Anthony Ogbizi, directed the immediate constitution of sub-committees at Command and other levels as well as the establishment of modalities for recruitment of personnel. On their part, AIG Zone 5, Dibal Yakadi and the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Lawal Jimeta expressed hope that the model will compliment the currently under-staffed Police Force and reduce the crime rate to the barest minimum
Members of the committees include: representatives from religious and traditional institutions, Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) as well as other sister security agencies.
