IGP solicits community support

The Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase, has appealed to communities across the country to assist the police with useful information that would assist them to curb crimes.

Arase made the appeal on Tuesday in Calabar during a stakeholders meeting organised by the police to fashion out ways of effective policing in the country.

He said that kidnapping, terrorism, armed robbery and other heinous crimes could be brought under control if there is dedicated community efforts to assist the police carry out its constitutional duties.

He said: “The police alone cannot effectively do the job of policing the entire country without the cooperation from communities.

“Policemen are accessible to all Nigerians. Issues of insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery and others can be brought under control with dedicated efforts from the communities.

“We must collaborate with the communities to ensure effective policing of this great country.

“Religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth leaders and all groups must join hands with the police to ensure peace and security in our country.

“The police cannot do this job alone; we are appealing to the communities for their support and cooperation.’’

The police boss urged the state commissioner of police, Mr Henry Fadairo, to always organise town hall meetings to enable him hear the complaints of the people.

Fadairo said the meeting was organised for stakeholders to express their views, opinions, contributions and ideas, and give useful security strategies that would help in policing the society.

He expressed hope that the meeting would yield results that would be translated in changing the security challenges facing Cross River and Nigeria in general.

One of the stakeholders, Mr Richard Abang, a member of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), urged the police to re-double their efforts in the fight against kidnapping in the state.

According to Abang, kidnapping has become a frequent occurrence in the state, hence the need for the police to rise up and curb the menace.

Other speakers at the meeting also urged the police to effectively equip its personnel with sophisticated arms that would help them fight crime.