Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has inaugurated the Benue State Community Policing Advisory Committee, with a charge on members to work assiduously to curtail and prevent crime in the state.
Inaugurating the commitee at the Government House, in Makurdi, Governor Ortom said community policing is a global standard which emphasizes building relationships and working closely with members of the public for crime prevention.
Ortom noted the Police Act and Regulations CAP P19 Section 49 to 51 outlines the establishment of community policing through appointment of Special Constables and trained to assist the Police secure communities.
He urged members to be committed and give the assignment the seriousness it deserves.
Governor Ortom lamented increasing cases of armed robbery, murder, kidnapping, rape and other crimes that require all hands to curb, and solicited the support of the Benue public saying that the success of community policing requires involvement of community members.
READ ALSO: Insecurity in Benue: CP Mukaddas Pledges Protection For Informants
He expressed hope that the Inspector General of Police, the Police Service Commission, the National Assembly and other relevant authorities would effect the necessary legislative changes in order to give Nigerians credible community policing that could stand the test of time.
Gov. Ortom assured Chairman and members of the committee that his administration would support and work closely with them to succeed.
Representative of the Inspector General of Police, Lawal Shehu, a Deputy Inspector General of Police, thanked Governor Ortom for the support the State Government has been giving to the police and for embracing community policing as a way to combat crime in the state.
Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the State Community Policing Advisory Committee, CP. Garba Mukaddas, pledged the committee’s readiness to carry out the assignment with utmost seriousness.
Membership of the Committee includes the Commissioner of Police and Paramount Traditional Ruler as Chairman and Co-chairman respectively, heads of security agencies in the state, representative of Police Community Relations Committee, a representative of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), and Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs as well as a representative from each of the three senatorial zones as members.
