FCT Minister Calls For Equitable Distribution Of Community Police Personnel As CP Submits Plan

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, has called for a functional and equitable distribution of the Special Constabularies of the nationwide Community Policing across the capital city based on the needs of the communities.

Bello made the call when the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Bala Ciroma submitted the modalities for implementation of the Community Policing Policy in the city.

He also called for the active involvement of the Area Council Chairmen and Traditional rulers in the recruitment and deployment processes.

The minister commended Ciroma and the Community Policing Advisory Committee of the FCT. The FCT Minister thanked the heads of the various security formations in the FCT for their support in maintaining security in the territory.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye said Ciroma submitted the modalities during the FCT Security Committee Meeting held on the 6th of August 2020, and chaired by Bello.

Speaking during the meeting, Ciroma said that following the directives by the federal government for the engagement of Special Constabularies for Community Policing nationwide, and the subsequent inauguration of the FCT State Community Advisory Committee by Bello, the committee met and came up with modalities that will guide its implementation.
 
According to him, the main functions of the Community Constabularies will be crime detection and prevention, settlement of low level civil disputes and petty crimes.

Others are intelligence gathering and dissemination to the local police commanders, dealing with minor offences and social vices as well as assist in traffic management and school safety duties amongst others.
 
He added that the constabularies are also to operate only within the communities in which they are recruited and are not permitted to operate outside the locations, noting  that the force will train the volunteers and provide them with uniforms and means of identification.
 
The Security Committee also received a brief from the Health and Human Services Secretariat presented by the Director of Public Health, Josephine Okechukwu who disclosed that the major challenges facing the health authorities in the FCT are the issues of self-denial of the disease and lack of adherence to health protocols by many residents of the FCT to the COVID-19.

She also said that there were imported cases into the FCT from other states as well as from returnees from outside of Nigeria.

She called for more active involvement of the Area Councils and traditional institutions in the fight against the virus in the FCT.

Amongst other issues, the meeting also discussed matter relating to farmers/ herders clash which according to the security authorities has largely been resolved and steps being taken to tackle issues of banditry which are confined largely to the fringes along FCT borders with other states

The Security Committee meeting also had in attendance, the Minister of State of the FCT, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Umar Gambo Jibrin as well as the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu.
 
Others were the heads of the various security formations in the FCT, Area Council Chairmen, traditional and religious leaders as well as senior management staff of the FCT.