Members of the Nigeria Police Force have been enjoined to be security conscious as they serve the nation at their various beats.
The Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Usman Gonma gave the charge during an interaction with officers and men of the Cross River State Command in Calabar, the capital city.
Gonma, who lamented the killing of police personnel at their duty post in recent times, said that the zone was determined to ensure that policemen assigned to beats as well as those living outside the various barracks were protected from vicious attacks by unknown gunmen.
According to him, “we are in an era of insecurity due to factors we know. These factors expose us to attacks at our beats and other places. Be security conscious when you are on the beat. You must know the locality you are in because every beat is a flash point and a potential target for attack.
“So, do not let your guards down, be alert. You should know what is going on there and do not be a victim on your beat or even at home. Most of the time, despite the experience, we still have people being killed at the banks for instance.
“It should not continue like that. Take it that anything and happen there and know that you must protect yourself from such attacks. You should be security conscious. Some of you reside outside the barracks and some have been killed right in their own houses. We need you to be security conscious,” the AIG stressed.
Camaraderie
Gonma decried the lack of common bond or as he puts it ‘espirit de corps’ among policemen, saying that most personnel lack camaraderie, which does not go unnoticed by the public.
He advised, “it is often said that we are the enemy of ourselves. But, let us stop that today. Espirit de corps, to me, is very paramount. If your colleague from another area comes in and needs help, you should show him that spirit de corps. Doing that is very important but some of us do not do such.
“If we do it, the better for us; we cannot be hated by the public and at the same time be hated by us. I am urging you to henceforth to assist any of your colleagues in need of genuine help. I am not referring to criminality,” he emphasized.
Community synergy
In another development, the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 6, Usman Gonma also held an interaction with traditional rulers, who form part of the Police Community Relations Committee.
Gonma noted that the Inspector General of Police was investing to enhance its robust community policing strategy aimed at curbing criminalities at the grassroots.
He said, “most of the crimes in society happens at the community level. If you do not recognize the leaders of our communities in fighting crime, it means little would be achieved. We want to sincerely rely on and partner with you community leaders in fighting crimes.”
He solicited for more and effective synergy between the traditional leaders in intelligence sharing as well as mutual cooperation to curb the wave of crime in Cross River State.
Nnenna.O
