Participant at the engagement meeting in Awka on Tuesday. Credit: Ikenna Obianeri
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called for stronger collaboration between the police, communities, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to effectively address insecurity across the country.
The police chief also urged an end to the longstanding mistrust between law enforcement agencies and citizens, stressing that lasting security can only be achieved through mutual confidence and cooperation.
Speaking on Tuesday at a strategic stakeholders’ security engagement in Awka, Anambra State, the IGP, represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-East, DIG Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, said the initiative was designed to strengthen partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable peace, security, and public safety.
He noted that effective policing depends largely on trust and cooperation between security agencies and the communities they serve.
According to him, the Inspector-General directed all six Deputy Inspectors-General across the country’s geopolitical zones to engage key stakeholders in identifying practical solutions to prevailing security challenges.
Onwuemelie explained that the nationwide engagements provide opportunities for stakeholders to discuss existing threats, identify emerging security concerns, and develop strategies to improve intelligence gathering, community participation, and coordinated responses to crime.
“This stakeholders’ engagement is intended to deepen collaboration between the police, communities, and relevant institutions in Anambra State to effectively combat crime and criminality.
“It is aimed at strengthening cooperation among security agencies, traditional institutions, government representatives, community leaders, and other critical stakeholders for sustainable peace, security, and public safety,” he said.
The DIG urged residents to work closely with security agencies and legally recognised vigilante groups to strengthen efforts against criminal activities.
“Security is a collective responsibility. No single individual or agency can tackle insecurity alone. The police and other security agencies need the support and cooperation of traditional rulers, community leaders, and residents to effectively reduce crime,” he said.
He lamented the culture of silence in some communities, warning that it often enables criminals to operate without resistance. He therefore appealed to citizens to provide timely and credible intelligence to security agencies before criminal activities escalate.
Onwuemelie identified cult-related violence, armed robbery, kidnapping, targeted killings, and drug trafficking as some of the major security threats confronting the country.
He maintained that communities united against crime would make it increasingly difficult for criminal groups to thrive.
“Clashes among criminal gangs have continued to result in deaths and injuries, making youth engagement and community participation critical in addressing the challenge.
“The people need to trust the police, and the police also need to trust the people. It is only when there is mutual trust that information can flow freely. We need a genuine partnership,” he added.
The DIG further stressed the importance of guiding young people and creating opportunities that offer hope and direction, while encouraging collaboration with vigilante groups within the framework of the law.
“We will deepen our presence at the grassroots level. We will continue working with the Department of State Services and other security agencies to combat crime, while strengthening community engagement through traditional rulers and community leaders,” he said.
Addressing the debate over state police, the IGP dismissed claims that the Nigeria Police Force was obstructing its establishment, explaining that the process requires constitutional amendments.
“The issue of state police is constitutional. Relevant provisions of the Constitution and other laws must be amended before state police can become a reality. This responsibility rests with the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Ibrahim Ezekiel, described security as the bedrock of economic growth and social development.
He urged citizens to actively support security agencies, noting that every resident has a role to play in creating a safer and more secure society.
