#TrackNigeria- The Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone XI, AIG Leye Oyebade has emphasized the need for “meaningful contributions” by the public towards successful community policing in Nigeria and his zone in particular.
He stated this during the inauguration of the Zonal Security Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo, Osun State on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, AIG oyebade said, “The expectation that community policing will solve all security challenges will be a mirage without meaningful contributions by the public. Hence, the need to have the Security Stakeholders’ Forum to serve as a platform through which communities, individuals, and corporate organizations can make their contributions to security.”
Click link below to
read the IGP’s remarks in Osogbo:
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Read the full text of Oyebade’s address below:
SPEECH DELIVERED BY AIG ADELEYE O. OYEBADE, mni, THE ASSISTANT INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE IN CHARGE OF ZONE XI COMPRISING ONDO, OSUN AND OYO STATES AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE ZONAL SECURITY STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM HELD AT THE UNITY HALL, ZONAL COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, OSOGBO ON 25TH APRIL, 2019
It gives me great joy to welcome you to the inauguration of the Security Stakeholders’ Forum. I also thank you for honoring our invitation. Your presence no doubt portends hope that a desirable symbiotic relationship exists and should be strengthened between the police and the public in the interest of peace and security of our society.
The idea of the Security Stakeholders’ Forum was muted out of burning desire and uncommon willingness to provide robust security for the good people of Ondo, Osun and Oyo states under the Zone. It is this passion and commitment that drive our sincere call for this type of assemblage of individuals who we believe can share in our vision and mission to have a Zonal Police Command, galvanized by zeal for result-oriented, intelligence-driven and problem solving policing.
The place of the Nigeria Police Force in the overall security architecture of Nigeria cannot be glossed over. As the lead agency in internal security, the Nigeria Police Force is saddled with enormous responsibilities/duties. These duties as expressly spelt out in Section 4 of the Police Act are:
- Prevention and detection of crime.
- Apprehension of offenders
- Preservation of law and order
- Protection of life and property
- Due enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged
- Performance of such military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the authority of this Act or any other Act.
While it cannot be denied that the Nigeria Police is doing its best to protect Nigerians and defend our democracy, the point must be made that there are still challenges. Challenges such as kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, cattle rustling, insurgency and other crimes and criminality still occur in some parts of the country. The Zone is obviously one of the most peaceful in the country. The relative peace in the three states under the Zone would not be achieved but for the support of Mr President, the three state Governors, the Inspector-General of Police and his management team, the good people of the Zone as well as the dedication and commitment of officers and men in the three states.
I am happy to inform you that we have been able to put criminals at bay in the Zone. We have also arrested some armed robbery suspects, kidnap suspects, suspected ritualists, burglars, recovered cache of arms and ammunition, stolen vehicles, motorcycles, and other valuable property across the Zone since the launch of the ‘Operation Puff Adder’. While some of the cases are still under investigation, others have been charged to courts.
These modest achievements notwithstanding, there is still room for improvement. But there are obvious challenges militating against effective policing especially in the Zone. These challenges, though not insurmountable, include some logistic problems, communication problem and other infrastructural deficiencies.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in spite of the inherent encumbrances, the vision of the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police is ‘to be a leading national, professional and efficient law enforcement organization’. It is also the mission of the Force ‘to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities, protect and respect human rights, and promote community partnership in preventing and controlling social order’. We do have a Community policing strategy that rests on the tripartite of problem-solving, community partnership and organizational transformation.
It is our resolve to ensure that this mission is accomplished in the Zone. But the peace and tranquility we envision cannot be accomplished as long as the perennial problems earlier mentioned continue to stare us in the face. As can be seen, the government alone cannot fund the police hence it requires the collaboration of all.
The dynamism and propensity of crimes and criminality in Nigeria in general and in the Zone in particular requires a multi-facet, multi-dimensional approach if we must succeed in providing quality service that we all desire. The expectation that community policing will solve all security challenges will be a mirage without meaningful contributions by the public. Hence, the need to have the Security Stakeholders’ Forum to serve as a platform through which communities, individuals, and corporate organizations can make their contributions to security.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, while welcoming you once again, we strongly believe that your individual and collective contributions to security of lives and property in the Zone will not be in vain.
I thank you all sincerely for your unflinching support over the time. I sincerely appreciate you for your patience and I wish you safe journey to your respective destinations. God bless.
