By George Coben, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command, on Thursday, played host to the coordinating Deputy Inspectors General of Police, DIGs, of the North East Geopolitical zone, Zachariah Fera Achinyan, of the force intelligence department, and Ibrahim Baba Zongo, department of research and planning.
They were in the police command on a stakeholders engagement and consultative meeting, under the theme, “crime fighting initiatives: sustaining community partnership.
Speaking on their behalf, DIG Achinyan said that as mandated by the IGP Mr Olatunji Rilwan Disu, he embarked on tour of the state’s across the North East Region to engage stakeholders, assess security concerns and obtain firsthand information on challenges affecting local communities.
He said that the visit was aimed at strenghtening partnerships and developing more effective strategies for enhancing security and public safety across the region.
The DIG emphasized on the importance of community collaboration in addressing the nations growing security challenges.
“The theme of the meeting provided a platform for security agencies and stakeholders to discuss strategies to strenghten public safety and enhance cooperation between citizens and security agencies,” DIG Achinyan stressed.
He commended the people of the state for their continued support to the police, describing their response to the meeting as a reflection of public confidence in the institution.
He however, noted that criminal activities have evolved over the years, being compounded by the emergence of cybercrime and other technology-driven offences, as major security threats.
While saying that the NPF is being repositioned technologically and otherwise, to continue to be ahead of criminal elements in their activities, the DIG appealed for the public’s recommitment in seeing the fight against crime as a collective responsibility by making actionable intelligence available to the police.
Achinyan said to further assit in crime bursting and control, the right of the people, either as individuals or groups to arrest suspected criminals and hand them over to the police, cannot be over-emphasized.
Earlier speaking, the CP, Mr Sani-Omolori Aliyu described the visit as a reflection of the IGPs commitment to strenghtening operational effectiveness through strategic assessment, guidance and stakeholders engagement.
Sani-Omolori Aliyu noted that for the past 5 decades, the police command has continued to evolve in response to emerging security challenges through improved operational strategies and institutional reforms.
He however, identified several operational challenges facing the command, such as inadequate arms and ammunition, shortage of patrol vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers, APCs, motorcycles for difficult terrains, as well as modern intelligence gathering equipment.
“The command requires additional weapons and ammunition to sustain gains made in operations against banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes,” the CP stressed.
He attributed the achievements recorded in the command within the last 6 months to dedication of personnel, support from the Bauchi State government, collaborative work with sister security agencies and quasi-security outfits, and assistance from other members of the public, urging that this be sutained and improved upon.
Stakeholders at meeting were a former deputy governor, members of the state executive council, religious leaders, traditional rulers, heads of security agencies and outfits, heads of tertiary institutions, and state coordinator human rights commission.
Others were representatives from the PCRC, POWA, youth and women groups, CSOs and student unions, among others.
They variously commended the police command for improvement in the security situation in the state.
Stakeholders pledged their unwavering support for the command to improve and urged the police to establish crime control radio stations in the headquarters for use in local languages.
They further suggested sponsoring of crime prevention programs using already established community radios in the local government areas, among others.
