Community policing: We 're implicitly committed to security of our people, says Oyetola

Governor,  State of Osun,  Mr Adegboyega Oyetola,  has restated  the commitment of his administration to the security of lives and property of citizenry in the state.

He called for collaborative efforts from the generality of the populace,  towards enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of security agents, especially  in the area of intelligence gathering.

The governor stated this on Thursday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at the Sensitization and Awareness Campaign on Community Policing in the South West, organized by the Osun state command of the  Police.

According to Oyetola, the present government in the state,  upon assumption of office embarked on thorough sensitization through security town hall meetings, to alert the people on strategic means of   providing  vital information on security to  the police.

He added that his government has also been collaborating with the highest echelon  of the military, the Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence corps, among other security agencies,  for the purpose of promoting secured atmosphere for the people of the state.

The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Mr. Olugboyega Alabi, maintained that the huge investment in securing the state by his government  has really paid off,  as the state is being adjudged  as  the most peaceful state in the country.

Oyetola  lauded the Nigerian Police and other security agencies in Osun for their commitment, gallantry and patriotism in keeping the state safe.

He said, " As a government, we shall continue to support every effort geared towards securing the  lives and property of our people, irrespective of their location.

"In addition to this meeting of stakeholders, we shall also  engage the   media in an aggressive campaign to constantly sensitise our people in both English and local languages, to be security conscious at all times".

The former Inspector General of Police,  Mr.  Tafa Balogun, who chaired the programme recalled that he was the one who came up with  the concept of community policing in 2002, when he held sway  as IGP.

He explained that the original motive behind the concept was  to strengthen  the symbiotic relationship between the police and the civil community,  for effective policing,  as it is being done in 

advanced democracies.

He, however,  expressed disappointment that the idea of community policing  was later jettitioned,  shortly after his exit from the police in 2005.

 Balogun, then emphasised the  urgent need to bridge the gap between the police and the  society, saying the  strained relationship between the police and the civil community solely responsible for the Endsars protests that recently rocked the nation.