Community policing is a collaborative effort between the security agencies and members of a particular community towards solving emerging security threats and improving the enduring peace and safety of society.

Although strategic security management involves the deployment of advanced technology to monitor, investigate and detect suspicion and eventually culprits of crime and criminality, community policing has, over the years, survived a series of integrity tests as one of the most effective strategies to sustain a crime-free environment.

Hence, a society where the security agency and community agree to unite against a common enemy mostly enjoys lasting tranquillity, low crime and criminality, as well as conflict reduction.

Nevertheless, to guarantee the atmosphere for efficient and effective community policing, enduring partnerships between relevant stakeholders, including community leaders, traditional and religious heads, leaders of thought, and constituted authorities, become a sine qua non.

To put it succinctly, the police force in any working environment must work with the stakeholders in the community to sufficiently identify, and neutralise peculiar security threats. If effectively executed beyond special influence and interest, community policing improves safety, eliminates the fear of the unknown, and ensures a stable neighbourhood and, hence, quality of life for the citizenry.

Besides the maintenance of a crime-free society, security agencies are professionally trained globally to protect the sanctity of the rights of citizens regardless of status while executing their entrusted statutory responsibilities.

Spell clearly in the principle of democratic policing, officers of the law of the land are duty-bound to respect the rule of law and fundamental human rights as guaranteed by the provisions of the constitution, even while ensuring public safety.

As contained in the rule of engagement, police officers and other law enforcement agencies must act fairly while handling members of the society and respect their human rights under the law as legitimate rights every suspect must enjoy until the same is pronounced guilty by a competent court.

Putting into perspective, for a state with over 20 million populations of multi-ethnic, diverse cultural backgrounds cut across different religions, Kano requires no less a democratic policing system that will sustain relative tranquillity.

Despite the brewing impact of security instability in states neighbouring Kano, the ancient city recognised as the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria, the state attracts increased trade volume daily, with business transactions cut across Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries.

Just like in any democratic setting, the constituted authorities, executive, legislative and judiciary from the three arms of government left no stone unturned to ensure the deployment of resources to the protection of life, properties and a peaceful community.

Incidentally, the security trend in Kano today calls for urgent administrative and enforcement review by the higher authorities to prevent untoward development threatening the peace of the state.

Recent management of unfolding developments that generated security concerns in Kano had indicated an unpleasant disposition and trust deficit of residents toward the police command in the state. The body language of the police, in every instance, pointed to the fact that the command is acting strictly under a superlative influence above the powers of the Chief Security Officer of the state.

The resurgence of criminal elements popularly called ‘Yan Daba’, snatching phones, dispossessing residents of the property and making life unbearable to average residents, is a terrible sight nobody would love to behold in Kano.

The devastating impact of political thugs that unleashed terror on innocent people and destroyed property worth millions of naira during the #EndBadGovernment protest in Kano can’t be forgotten in a hurry. Apart from inflicting injuries on passersby, the thugs suspected to have been sponsored by the opposition invaded and looted government and private properties.

The dastardly act couldn’t have gotten that worse if the security agencies, especially the police and military, had acted swiftly to prevent the hoodlums from accessing public property. For instance, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, accused the police of negligence and failure to act on intelligence reports brought before the command, notifying them of impending action.

Again, many would hold the belief that the security intentionally refused to prevent the invasion of the state high court and the National Digital Hub newly constructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at Audu Bako Secretariat,  a few meters away from where hundreds of police and military personnel stationed to protect one person residing in Nassaraw mini palace.

To the police command, it is rather pertinent to deploy men and artillery to secure one Very Important Person VIP at the Nassara house to prevent the thugs from invading public institutions and private properties.

You would wonder why, six months after the unfortunate violent attacks elicited by the #EndBadGovernance protest, the police are still fortifying the Nassarawa house with fully armed men and operational vehicles, thereby depriving several zones of the necessary security means to survive.

However, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbedokun, may want to explain the rationale behind the lopsided deployment where communities bordering Katsina are left vulnerable to banditry attacks.

Yet, several divisional heads and senior officers holding forth across police formations have long overstayed their duty posts against the routine posting and deployment of officers around formations in the state. It is high time the top echelon of the police authority embarks on an office audit to inject fresh officers without blemishes to replace overstaying officers.

The recent security signal over impending terrorist attacks in Kano ahead of National Tijjaniyya annual Maulud in Kano shocked residents. Although the state government sooner dispelled the terrorist attacks, the ancient city remained uneasy and calm until the religious gathering.

Although the police insisted the signal remained an intelligent fact well received, the Maulud was held peaceful amid thousands of Tijjaniyya adherence from across. The single action has further widened the existing trust deficit between the residents and the police.

The question is, how many masters would the police serve at the same time? Who are those vested interest stage managing the affairs of the police against the will of the state? Are they mindful of the negative implications of planting even against public interest in the name of politics.

It is high time the security apparatus in Kano realised their role in protecting life and properties is sacrosanct. The officers of the law should realise their allegiance rests predominantly with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not in the hands of selfish individuals who may want to use and sacrifice them for personal influence.

In the interest of peace and harmony, the police should recognize the powers vested in the Executive power of the state Governor by the constitution as the Chief Security Officer of the state. The command should bear in mind that any attempt to undermine the executive authorities may lead to gross violations of the rule of law.

Abbas is a Civil Society Activist.