EDDY OCHIGBO, Kaduna
The Kaduna state government has commenced the process of community and state policing, aimed at tackling the worsening insecurity in the state holistically.
Acting Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who dropped the hint after presiding over a security meeting yesterday, said consultations have begun in the state’s three senatorial districts to address the general insecurity in the state.
The meeting, which attracted senators, members of the House of Representatives, state House of Assembly members and chairmen of 15 Local Government Areas as well as District Heads, is believed to be a step in the right direction.
In an interview with Correspondents, after the meeting, the Senator representing Kaduna Central zone, Malam Uba Sani, said they had to come together to look into the security problem facing the state, stressing that insecurity needs to be tackled collectively.
While revealing that he was working on a bill to restructure police architecture towards mitigating contemporary challenges in the country, the senator maintained that if the bill scales through, it would give birth to community and state police.
“I am working on a bill to restructure the police architecture, that will pave way for federal and state police. We want to solve insecurity in the state and Nigeria as a whole,’’ Sani disclosed, adding that “the communities would be mobilized to be part of tackling insecurity in the state, through traditional and political leaders. Our governor is determined to end insecurity in the state”.
Also, speaking, the member representing Kajuru/Chikun federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Yakubu Umar Barde, commended Governor Nasir el-Rufai for his efforts in tackling insecurity, arguing that insecurity affects everyone in the society, irrespective political affiliations, ethnicity or religious beliefs.
“The Commissioners of Local Government and Internal Security briefed us during the meeting. You know state governors have no control over security. We are working on restructuring the police to enhance our ability to solve insecurity,’’ Barde said.
On his part, the Commissioner of Local Government, Alhaji Ja’afaru Sani, expressed delight over the renewed plan. “The state has commenced thorough screening of selected youths by their district heads for community policing to fight insecurity. We plan to adopt community policing in our communities to complement security. We asked district heads to select honest youths and send to local government for thorough screening for community policing. We are confident that community policing will curtail insecurity in the state”, he remarked.
Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs of the state, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who made presentation on government efforts and steps in tackling insecurity, assured that government would continue to engage traditional rulers, community leaders and the political leadership, so as to address insecurity in the state holistically.