Kogi deputy governor inaugurates community policing, vows to achieve crime free Kogi

Kogi State Deputy governor, Edward Onoja has in response to security challenges inaugurated the State Community Policing Advisory Committee (SCPC) and the State Community Policing Committee (SCPC). 

Setting up the committees on Monday, Chief Edward Onoja who represented Gov. Bello at the event expressed the governor’s preparedness to nip in bud the security challenges the state faces in recent times.

He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative of Community Policing Policy, saying it is a watershed in efforts to protect the people under the incumbent Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu.

In a release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Promise Emmanuel, Governor Bello said the policy became imperative as a result of the necessity in engaging the community in affairs that border on their protection.

He vowed that inauguration of the committees will further strengthen the efforts being put in place to arrest those behind recent criminal activities including the recent bank robbery that led to the death of about 8 people in the state, while maintaining his desire is to have a crime free Kogi State under his leadership.

In his address, the Inspector General of Police whose address was delivered by DIG Lawal Shehu urged the committee to ensure it is made up people with good character and not criminals or ex convicts.

He also suggested that workers whose sources of income are known should be made members of the committee since they can be vouched for as people with legitimate sources of income.

In his own address, the Commissioner of Police, Ede Ayuba said he is ready to work with the committee to ensure a crime free Kogi State which they are members of.

He said policing is the business of all and called on everyone to work with the committee to ensure safety of lives and property.

In his acceptance speech, the Ohimegye Igu and Chairman of Lokoja/Kogi Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Abdulrazak Isah thanked the government for finding them worthy to serve, promising to bring his experience as a retired police officer to serve.

In his vote of thanks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) assured the people of the state of the efforts being put in place to ensure the state put recent security challenges to bed.