
The Statement made by the Governor through his chief press Secretary Mr Godwin Adindu reads " All Traditional Rulers in the state have been directed to submit names of 10 able-bodied youths from their community to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from Tuesday 10th to Wednesday 11th May 2016. These youths will be enlisted into the Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) to further boost community policing in the state"
One will gladly look at it from the idea of job creation to over 7,000 able bodied men but the effect ranges from secured environment to more record on investments.
Development thrives in a peaceful environment. Community policing is a way to go.
Personally, I commend the military for all sacrifices, for their courage and commitments towards making Nigeria safe but we demand more proactive measures.
Discussions upon discussions, committees upon committees, yet we are shading tears. The ex-chief of Army staff and the immediate past chairman, board of Nigeria shippers council, Salihu Ibrahim's comment on how to tackle insecurity in Nigeria through Community policing comes to mind.
A certain yoruba man was posted to a crime prone area in a Northern state as the DPO. The posting was for him to effect a change considering his pedigree in crime fighting. The task ahead wasn't going to be an easy one, to bring crime to the barest minimum. A handful of other policemen from both the South and West were to assist in the mission. Armed robbers had field days in that area because the DPO and his men were not friendly with the environment and hideouts.
Efforts to liase with the chiefs and the community proved abortive and was counter productive due to language barrier. The whole mission was a mess.
An officer in his community will be more effective in fighting crime because he has a wide knowledge of 'where and who' to find.
In the issue of Bokoharam, Salihu Ibrahim's stand on the adoption of community policing cannot be waved out. I am yet to agree that leaders and elders in any violent prone states do not know people that are making life miserable for others. It beats my imaginations also that some leaders find it difficult to point the bad eggs in their midst.
In my community for instance, we know who is capable of whatever, call it rape, theft, kidnap etc.
Community policing will enable the men fish out the perpetrators because they can easily liase with the community and go a long way to protect the lives and properties of 'loved ones'. A Stranger from another place may feel indifferent to some dirty deals and illicit businesses in the area or will surely depend on information provided by the villagers who may not be willing to corporate with the Stranger.
An officer from same crime area cannot close his eyes in the face of crime in his community where his relations and family resides.
An indigenous officer can control behavior of his people at incubation stage before it escalates and becomes aggravated. Yea,,, because he understands the language, knows the environment, knows the people, knows the culture, has nothing to benefit from crimes against his people.
Ikechukwu Iroha is a Special Assistant to the Governor on Media.
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