Aregbesola Tasks Police on Community Relations

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has charged Officers and Men of Nigeria Police Force on the need to strengthen community relations among the diverse people of Nigeria.

Aregbesola also pointed out that the only ingredient capable of enhancing the activities of the members of Nigeria Police Force was to maintain civility while discharging their constitutional duties as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Aregbesola stated this during address at the Passing-Out Parade of Police Mobile Force Squadron Commanders’ Seminal/Combat Operation Course 03/2016, at Police Mobile Force Training College, Ila-Orangun, Osun State.
Aregbesola identified the protection of lives and property of Nigerian people as the reason behind the establishment of Nigeria Police Force, saying the only way for police officers in the country to champion the course was to establish and entrench a strong bond with the people in their various communities.
The Governor who charged the nation’s police on the need to rededicate themselves and live up to their responsibilities, said officers of the Nigeria Police Force must build more on efficiency, competence, courage, sacrifice and effectiveness.
Governor Aregbesola who described community relations as a vibrant mechanism to policing, said the time has come for the management of Nigeria Police Force to map-out strategies that will maintain and sustain favourable, mutually-beneficial and cordial relationships between it and the citizens.
The governor maintained that not until the police see themselves as part and parcel of the community, their services to the nation would remain ineffective and unappreciated.
Aregbesola also used the occasion to appeal to the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police, to as a matter of necessity expedite actions that would reposition the force and as well stamp-out the perceived corruption and ineptitude.
He noted that such action if properly carried out would definitely correct the anomalies in the sector and as well instill trust and confidence.
He said, “going by the space of the current security challenges facing our nation, there is no iota of doubt that one of the ways to overcome this security menace was for the officers and men of Nigeria Police to develop workable strategy that will fast track necessary intimacy between it and the people in the community.
“Since society can only be civilized if there is adequate security of lives and property, hence, remains a challenge to security agencies to maintain good relations with the people in the communities.
“Police must integrate with the people in the community to ensure that their civil responsibility is being carried out with high sense of discipline, loyalty and competence.
“As part of the efforts of Nigeria Police to ensure safety, they must not forget the fact that safety begins in their immediate environment and for this purpose, they must respect the people in the society and engagement them in their services”, Aregbesola added.
Governor Aregbesola who described the state as one of the safest states in Nigeria, said his administration would not relent to prioritize safety of the citizenry in all its policies.
He therefore advocated for peaceful co-habitation among Nigerians, saying “united will stand divided will fall”.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris revealed that efforts are in top gear to ensure that all commissioned officers from the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police to the Inspector-General of Police declare their assets.
The newly appointed IGP said the initiative is aimed at checking the activities of corrupt officers and deterring others from indulging in corrupt practices while nothing that the obvious implication of unprofessional conducts will attract serious disciplinary measures.
Idris who vowed to complement the efforts of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against insurgency, corruption and other related vices, said the Force is set to put a drastic end to all the myriads of challenges bedeviling the country.
He described corruption as a cankerworm which has been identified as the most critical factor holding the Nigeria Police back from the path of quality and professional service delivery, saying his administration was set to consolidate on the solidly built foundation of its previous administration in tackling corruption and ensure that the Force is ridded of a few misguided elements bringing infamy upon the image of the Force.
The new IGP disclosed that his administration would ensure that the root cause of corruption is fought to standstil by frontally engaging the IGP Monitoring Unit and X-Squad to checkmate officers nationwide with a view to enforcing accountability, transparency and discipline among officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force.
According to him, “This event is coming at a very crucial time when the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to build a Police Force capable of combating emerging security challenges of national concern such as kidnapping, militancy, insurgency, terrorism, communal clashes, cattle rustling and host of other organized crimes”.
“We will spare no effort to ensure total accomplishment of these goals and also maintain a safest, secured and prosperous nation through prompt and timely discharge of our duties as police officers.
He promised that his administration would consolidate on the welfare initiatives of the immediate past administration by ensuring prompt payment of salaries, promotion of officers as at when due through regular encouragement.
The new IGP vowed that his administration would uphold adequate protection of lives and property just as it remains one of the cardinal duties of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that special attention would also be given to action and potential consequences.
He however charged the participants of the course on the need to take critical analysis of the lessons learnt from the training with a view to be more effective and efficient in their performance and maintain the virtues of worthy ambassador of Nigeria.
The new IGP who expressed confidence in the newly inaugurated commanders, expressed delight in the fact that they (commanders) demonstrated a high sense of discipline, professional competence, dedication and responsibility during the course of the training exercise.
According to him,”going by the quality of the training acquired in the last three-week, I have no doubt that you will translate these strategic professional competences into actionable realities.
“It is also my joy that you have all demonstrated these distinguishing virtues and successfully completed your three-week exercise”.
He noted that it remains important for them to know that every action and inaction of the men under their respective commands will have direct bearing on someone’s life which may make or mar their careers as the case may be.
The new IGP urged them to rise up to the challenges by applying the skills acquired towards nipping emergent crimes in the bud.
“Henceforth, all police officers must act with utmost civility to members of the public in the course of discharging their constitutional responsibilities”, he added.
He therefore called on the commanders of the operational arm of the Force to display a high sense of professionalism by ensuring that their personnel are appropriately deployed to authorized persons, saying henceforth all officers who might have been deployed to the unauthorized persons must be withdrawn immediately.
In his remarks, the Commandant, Police Mobile Training College, Ila-Orangun, ACP Muhammed Dankwara, revealed that a total of fifty-nine (59) out of sixty (60) Squadron commanders who attended the three-week course have been recommended for pass-out after a rigorous, tedious, energy sapping, re-invigorating, physically and mentally tasking courses.
ACP Dankwara stressed that the course which commenced on Monday 6th of June, 2016 saw the course participants through theory and practical work including strategic leadership/management course, PMF duties and statutory roles of a commander as well as the use of the Global Position System, Weapon Handling, Firearm Laws among others.
He said, “I am pleased that the course participants have exhibited a high sense of discipline and commitment in all ramifications while the course lasted.
ACP Dankwara however implored the new IGP to as a matter of duty resuscitate the training of the rank and file in the Police Mobile Force so as to clear the backlog of training of local mobilized combatants in the various squadrons.
He noted that one of the ways to curb incessant misuse of firearms was for the authority of the Nigeria Police Force to urgently weapon handling for the gallant officers.
ACP Dankwara meanwhile suggested that operational outfit within the force be detailed to send officers and men on regular basis for training and retraining.