A security expert, Mr. Mike Chukwuma has advocated for community policing to tackle conflict between communities and security agencies.
Dr. Chukwuma a retired assistant commissioner of police said this in an interview while reacting to the killings of soldiers in Okuama Community in Delta State. He emphasized the prevalance distrust of law enforcement agencies in handling internal security matters.
Mr. Mike Chukwuma
Dr Chukwuma further said that he is a strong advocate of community based policing system. Stressing that security is not all about physical interaction, rather, in security management, the issue of trust must be built in. He frown at the fact that Nigeria had admit to a situation where we rely on federal policing. Stating that we ought to by today be talking mostly on internal security, based on community policing where almost all the officers are contained in all the Local Government Areas so that they are close to their people, and they know their people, and there would be trust and mutual understanding amongst them as they speak the same language.
He further explained that community policing is essential to reduce crime and criminalities, especially kidnapping and other vices, stating that community policing is a key to an enhanced security and socioeconomic development in Nigeria. He said while you may be conscious of protecting and securing your own home and family, what about your neighbourhood? Adding that helping to keep your local neighbourhood safe is essential in maintaining community spirit. He therefore urge the Rivers State governor to join the other 16 governors to endorse state policing.
An elder states man in Rumurlumini community, Bright Baridan in an interview with our reporters said instead, let the police train and select those who pass their test, and hence they are to be attached to their local police headquarters. Adding that community policing function should be to complement the the efforts of our regular police force as they know every bush or hidden places in their individual communities and with this we can fight insecurity in Nigeria and be successful.
