By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The concept of community policing to strengthen the internal security of Kwara State has been flagged off at the weekend, with a total
1,056 police constables recruited to pioneer training for the scheme, which was launched in IIorin, Kwara State capital by the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Thanking President Mohammed Buhari for keying into the concept of community policing, Governor AbdulRazaq said that as a matter of fact, the community policing initiative was long overdue, as it would no doubt complement the conventional police efforts to burst criminal networks before their unlawful acts are carried out.
AbdulRazq said, “I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for approving a noble project like this as presented by the Inspector General of Police. This programme is not new all over the world, but its implementation at this time is very significant.”
The governor, however, said that the success of community policing depends on the society fully backing it, asserting that police is often a reflection of the society it serves.
He commended the security agencies, including the police, for their hard work that continues to keep Kwara State mostly safe.
He added, “The people are integral to the success of the police. The people will give the information that the police will act on. These constables are products of the society and they will operate within the society that they understand. This is the essence of community policing.”
The governor said the recent Unired State’s travel advisory, exempting Kwara from states considered to have high security risk, testifies to the exceptional efforts of the police and other security agencies in the state to protect lives and properties, urging them to continue to partner with the state government in that regard.
Admonishing the new constables on discipline and commitment to duties, which he described as the bedrock of the policing job, AbdulRazaq said, “Those of you stepping into the community police today have your job cut out for you. You need a lot of discipline to excel. Once you are disciplined, other things will fall in place for you.”
I’m his speech, the Kwara State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Bagega, said that the initiative was intended to enhance success in the fight against crime, emphasising the significant roles intelligence gathering played in checking crimes.
Bagega added, “The IGP, through the Police Service Commission, wishes to enhance the fight against crimes through intelligence-led policing. Therefore we need information and these people, after graduation will be posted back to their respective communities.”
The CP added that the constables would, after undergoing one month training on security tasks, be deployed to their various communities in Kwara State.
