BY SIMON REEF MUSA
In the past weeks, the need for community policing has been reiterated and stressed upon as an effective strategy in ending the rising spates of insecurity in the country. The urgency with which some analysts have called on government to quickly approve and hasten the take-off of community policing has been tied to new waves of insecurity blowing across the country.
In a nation that is cascading down the slippery slope of frightening uncertainties that is made worse by bloody attacks unleashed on vulnerable Nigerians by blood-lusty bandits and other criminal elements, the need to democratize policing and engaged society has become imperative. With a personnel that is less than 250,000 mandated with the task of policing over 200 million citizens, it is obvious that securing our nation without engaging communities and critical stakeholders has turned out an impossible feat.
That is why our nation is daily buffeted by the criminal activities of brigands who have turned our country into flourishing killing field. Half of the police population is now engaged in guiding political appointees, members of the National Assembly and corporate organisations dealing in financial transactions and crude oil, among others.
It is on this basis that almost half of our country’s police force is engaged in securing members of the political class and their families. With less than 150,000 personnel, securing other non-political figures and corporate organisations, most of our nation’s citizens are clearly left to their fate in ensuring their safety.
Recently, The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with Unite Consult Ltd and C.O. Luke & Co, commenced on mass sensitisation of members of the public on ‘Understanding community policing: A framework for action,’ with a view to engaging critical stakeholders on evolving effective templates for the commencement of community policing. The essence of the sensitisation workshop that is still ongoing is to promote a conversation on how best to create an ideal environment necessary for community policing to thrive.
Not only are traditional rulers, community and other ethnic leaders billed to attend the workshops to be held in all the sic geo-political zones, other critical stakeholders involved in ensuring the broadening of ideas towards the commencement of community policing have expressed enthusiasm in the concept of community policing.
One of the major resource persons and influential unionist that has left his mark in advocating better conditions of living for workers, Comrade Issa Aremu, is also involved in this landmark endeavor to improve the security fortunes of our nation that has suffered mishaps from lawless elements whose interest is throwing our communities into the abyss of ethnic and religious conflagrations.
The need to now engage community policing in fighting crimes has become irreplaceable against the backdrop of the rising spate of criminal activities unleashed by bandits and other criminal elements on vulnerable communities across the nation. Allowing only security personnel to engage criminal elements without collaboration with other members of community is not only flawed but will ultimately prove inadequate to stem recurring criminal activities.
Very crucial in tackling crimes is the need to have not only effective intelligence gathering mechanism but enough informant to nip crimes before they are committed. With less than 350,000 police men and officers, apart from other personnel, the task of maintaining security across the 774 local government areas has become arduous and herculean. From rough estimates, less than 500 cops are supposed to be attached to each local council.
Out of this number, most of state government houses have no fewer than 150-200 cops; with members of state executive council attached with a policeman each. Members of the National Assembly and are also beneficiaries of police escorts who contribute to the leanness of the police workforce in safeguarding lives and property of Nigerians.
It is incontrovertible that, considering recurring bloodshed and violent upheavals in some parts of the country, engaging community to take charge of security has become vital. Those who oppose community policing are only blinded by the initial hiccups that may accompany its approval and implementation.
In the face of troubling waves of insecurity, we cannot sit idly and watch the worsening condition of security take a leap to a level that may prove hard to resolve. That is explains why the Nigerian Governors’’ Forum (NGF) has endorsed community policy as the best approach in tackling insecurity.
Though governors at most times are referred to as chief security officers of their states, in reality, they are not. With no police force under their command, they are rendered impotent when confronted with crises . All they can do, is to reach out to the centre for help. Due to bureaucratic bottlenecks, it may take a long while to have a response. By the time help eventually comes, the destruction may have left deep wounds among members of affected communities.
As it is, some states are known to oftentimes contribute financial and logistic assistance to the police. The approval of community policing s capable of making the states imbibe the need for employing various citizens at the local level for effective security cover. In an age where ethnic and religious sentiments are strong, membership of the community policing should be drawn among various segments of the communities after due consultation with relevant and critical stakeholders. To avoid rancour and bitterness among warring groups, there is need to promote inclusivity in engaging persons to be employed for community policing.
For instance, there is the urgency for state governors to douse tension and violence along ethnic and religious lines. In a situation where ethnic sentiments hold sway, such a state governor should do all within their powers to ensure justice and equity to all sides. Community policing should not be turned into yet another slot chance for an exclusive few who are likely to recommend cronies as a reward mechanism for politicians.
Where there are infractions by members of the community policing, the national police can be drafted to checkmate members of community policing. All efforts must be geared towards ensuring that political affiliation is not allowed to play any role.
More importantly, it is better to allow the local government councils be involved in carrying out the recruitment process for community policing, with complete non-interference from the states. State governors should play supervisory roles in order not to muddle up the water for political gains.
For now, there is no alternative to community policing in a country that has been ripped apart by the monsters of violence and destruction. For community policing to be effective, the democratisation of policing for effective security must be total, with critical stakeholders actively engaged in securing lives and property of citizens.
