The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Monday inaugurated the FCT community policing advisory committee with a call on members to be guided by the principles of natural justice and the laws of the country.
While inaugurating the 17-member committee headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, the minister also urged the committee members to be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye, Bello reminded them that the concept of community policing was anchored on a premise of trust between the people and security agencies.
He said, “Once there is a trust deficit in any guise or form, the workability of this policy becomes highly diminished and we would have lost a great opportunity in improving the security profile of the territory.”
Bello said those selected would be provided with basic training required for the job.
He also advocated a robust feedback and monitoring mechanism on the performance of those appointed to assigned tasks within the communities.
The minister equally called for the confidentiality of investigations and protection of informants.
While giving an overview of the functions of State Community Policing Advisory Committees, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of community policing, Bala Senchi, said the SCPAC was the highest advisory body on community policy in a state.
In his address, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who was represented by the DIG in charge of operations, Abdulmajid Ali, said community policing would bring back communalism in the communities, which he said had been lacking for a long time.
Members of the FCT State Community Policing Advisory Committee are CP Bala Ciroma as Chairman; Onah of Abaji, Adamu Yunusa, Senator representing the FCT, Senator Phillip Aduda; FCT Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman, Rev. Samson Jonah; and 13 others.
