- Urges CSOs, NGOs, traditional institutions to support police through shared information
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Nigerian Police force has been advised to be citizen friendly and people centred so as to earn the trust of members of the public.
This advice was made at a 2-day workshop organized by CLEEN Foundation with support from Open Society Foundation for Civil society organizations, CSOs, non governmental organizations, NGOs and traditional rulers held in Makurdi, Benue State capital.
Executive Director CLEEN Foindation Peter Maduoma decried that there is mutual deficiency between Police and the community, noting that effecfive police cannot strive in an envoronment or atmosphere of mistrust.
He said the Police work in the communities to share intelligence hence the need for trust, adding too, effective communication between the Police and the community.
According to him, security is not a solo performance of the Police but a symphony co-produced by the Police and the people.
Maduoma said when communication is weak and feedback is lacking, the Police feel unsupported, maintaining CSOs, NGCs and the traditional rulers must partner with the Police to generate ideas on security which is a shared responsibility and their role very vital in curbing misinformation.
Said he, “as a foundation we will continue to be ambassoars of the Police by bringing citizens and the police force to advamce reforms in policing and justice administration in the country.
“This is very critical at this junction of our security situation in the country especially in Benue state. We must put all hands on deck to ensure that we make progress against criniinality in Benue. It is multi faceted. The Police should be reactional rather than proactive. We call on the police to be people centered.
“The problem of Nigeria Police is FG who underfund it”.
Benue State Commissioner of Police Ifeanyi Enemari who was represented by DSP Peter orchia said, “we remain committed and interested in improvement of the Police. The community is police and Police is for the community”.
At the end of deliberation by participants, a Citizens’ Charter of Demand was promulgated.
They identified factors that can promote community Policing to include, improved welfare and working condition for police officers to ensure they perform their duties optimally, sensitization of both the police and community through structured dialogue session, early intelligence sharing between community members and the Police, improved response mechanisms by the police when cases are reported by members of the community, establishment of community-police committee in line with extant laws and training anf capacity building for both Police officers and community members to enhance professionalism and rights awareness.
Furthermore, the workshop recommended the dire need to consistently educate the citizens about their rights so that they can also, better engage with the police within the laws, engage whistle blowers and independent oversight in the community, systemic reforms that put checks on how the police execute their duties on a daily basis as well as create a sustainable platform of engagement for periodic police-citizen dialogue.
