By Hassan Zaggi
Disturbed by the rising insecurity in the country, the Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has called on community leaders to support the police by providing them with the needed information to enable them fight and overcome criminals in the country.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, weekend, the Minister said that the police and other security agencies can only perform well when they are provided with credible and timely intelligence.
“We need intelligence to guide our operations and also need the support of the general public as we are improving on our intelligence, equipment, and well-kitted officers in the course of their operations,” the Minister stressed.
The Minister, regretted that majority of banditry activities are perpetrated by people living in contiguous communities, using unpatriotic people in the same communities as agents that aid them with intelligence in carrying out their nefarious activities.
While noting that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration remained committed to providing security to all Nigerians, Dr. Dingyadi revealed that policing infrastructure is currently receiving attention through the recent deployment of drones by the Nigeria Police for surveillance of vulnerable locations.
This, according to him, is apart from the recent deployment of additional Explosive Ordinance Devices (EOD) to detect bombs and other covert measures to help in curtailing violent crimes.
He revealed that the Police is currently re-strategizing its kinetic and non-kinetic operations with a view to crushing all forms of security challenges in the country, noting that: “Nigeria Police Force has strengthened its kinetic operations against mindless persons or groups orchestrating violence against Nigerians.”
Dingyadi reiterated the Government’s commitment to maintaining peace, and provision of safety in order to create a conducive environment for economic growth noting that government will continue to require support to promote inclusiveness and a consistent campaign against enemies of our collective good.
“Let me reassure Nigerians, that the current administration remains committed to ensuring that justice is done for both victims of crime and their perpetrators.
“Your continuous support to the police will strengthen the needed synergy between the police and citizenry in the fight against all forms of violent crimes in Nigeria, together we will win the peace and enhance security.”
The Minister, however, revealed that the federal government is fast-tracking the increment of the salaries of the men and officers of the Force, adding that police management is up and doing to ensure collaboration with the Ministry of Finance for the increment to come into fruition.
“They have already started implementing part of it and very soon, it would be fully implemented,”the Minister stressed.
