Community policing: Police recruit 503 special constables in Nasarawa

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has engaged 503 Special Constables (SCP) for community policing in Nasarawa State to enhance intelligence gathering in tackling insecurity and crime. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 4, Mr. Jonah John, made the disclosure on Monday in Lafia at a one-day sensitisation campaign on community […]

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has engaged 503 Special Constables (SCP) for community policing in Nasarawa State to enhance intelligence gathering in tackling insecurity and crime.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 4, Mr. Jonah John, made the disclosure on Monday in Lafia at a one-day sensitisation campaign on community policing.

AIG John said 49 of the 503 recruited SCP had successfully undergone training and had been posted to various communities in the state to serve.

He added that 454 of the recruited SCP were currently undergoing training at the Zone 4 Headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State.

Speaking at the event, Peter Yisa-Gana, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Special Rapporteur on Community Policing for Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau states, said the community policing initiative was aimed at involving the entire structures in the society in policing.

Yisa-Gana, who is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), said the community policing concept under IGP Mohammed Adamu would go a long way towards tackling insecurity in the country.

He explained that the community policing initiative was structured with Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the state being in charge, to Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in line with the structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He added that the SCP personnel had the mandate to suspect, arrest and detain suspects in NPF facilities just like the conventional police.

The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Mr. Bola Longe, said with the commencement of the community police, they were better prepared to deal with criminal elements in the state.

CP Longe, therefore, appealed to members of the public to always give useful information to the police on the activities of criminals, adding that the business of ensuring a secured society was a collective responsibility.

Responding on behalf Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, pledged to ensure the success of the initiative. (NAN).