From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
President, New Horizons for Peace and Charity Initiative (NHFPC) Mr Uche Udungwor, has reiterated his call for community policing, even as he urged the citizens to assist security agencies in the fight against insecurity.
Udungwor who made his views known at a national conference by NHFPC at the TFC Place, Festac Town, Lagos on Friday, December 20, 2024, added that issue of security should not be left to the security agencies alone.
The theme of the conference was “Promoting Season of Peace and Security in Nigeria”
New Horizons was birthed out of the recent attacks and excesses of terrorists in Nigeria. “It came exclusively for peace and security, the idea came last year. The issue of security should be every person’s concern. It is not to be left in the hands of security agencies alone.”
He added that the number of security personnel that Nigeria has to protect over 200million people is not enough, hence the need for the citizens to assist in curbing the excesses of the kidnappers, terrorists and bandits in the nation. He said, “The criminals are not ghosts, they live among the people and the people have a big role to report these people to the appropriate security agencies.”
Speaking on what the organization has done, he said NHFPC has done a lot in Kaduna and Plateau states giving scholarships to 20 pupils as well as donation of 50 bags of rice in each of the states. It is currently sinking borehole in a community in Kaduna while that of Plateau would soon commence. He added that plans are also on way to raise funds for some victims of violent attacks in these states to start one business or the other.
Udungwor who disclosed that NHFPC is a Not-For-Profit, Non-Political and Non-Governmental Organization added that his organization has as its core mandate the promotion of peace, security and care for victims of violent attacks, adding that the Press Conference was designed out of the desire to further raise the consciousness of citizens as well as those of Law Enforcement Agencies of the perennial security challenges and violence usually experienced at this period of the year.
He recalled the incidences of insecurity in Nigeria and called for need for action. “You may recall that in recent years, our Nation has recorded unprecedented violent attacks that took place during this period. Most of these attacks were unprovoked, a situation where religious faithful who went to their various places of worship for spiritual exercise ended up as casualties and victims of these attacks, this is rather unfortunate and painful.
“It is worthy of note that these attacks were not only targeted at places of worship; other public places like malls and parks have not been spared of these dastardly acts. Today’s event, once again, is calling for pro-activeness on the part of the citizens and also our security/Law enforcement agencies against these ugly, disturbing and devastating occurrences,” Udungwor stated.
He said “NHFPC understood how onerous and tasking issues of security can be and it’s on this premise that we considered it apt to synergize and engage with our ever ready and gallant Security Agencies to do our best, knowing full well that issues of security is Everybody’s Business.
“Before the end of this programme today, I believe our law enforcement agencies here present, will leverage on this platform to educate, enlighten and further advised the citizenry on some precautionary measures to take against insecurity and also on how they can help them in the fight against insecurity and violent attacks,” he added.
For CSC Adisa Adijat Adenike, Divisional Officer, Amuwo-Odofin Division, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) while stating that peace and security is everyone’s business not just the security agencies, commended the organization for its decision to help security agencies on ways to tackle insecurity in the nation. She disclosed the readiness of the organisation to secure lives and property this yuletide. “To show how proactive we are, the Commandant Keshinro Adetukun, has deployed 3125 personnel to cover the whole of Lagos State at this festive period.”
She stated that at a season like this families would want to rejoice with their loved ones, but it is the same time men of the underworld would like to carry out criminal activities, “So we have deployed surveillance team on the critical national assets and infrastructure, if the infrastructures are not there, there is no way we are going to enjoy the festive period. The infrastructures include transformers, network cables, petroleum pipelines, among others. We have also intensified our intelligent gathering, we have intelligent officers everywhere, they are not on uniform but they are everywhere to ensure protection of national assets and infrastructure.”
SSS Musa representing the Zonal Comptroller, SSG Ijeoma Ase of the Federal Fire Service, he said the service has put things in place to make sure that the yuletide go as expected, and to ensure that uncontrollable fire can be contained. He also assured that all the appliances of the service are all in good working conditions and urged the public to report incidences of fire to the service and early too.
He added that apart from the functional fire service stations in Lagos, additional stations are being opened to enhance better service delivery.
