Musa Na Allah Sokoto
The Community Development Committee (CDC), a grassroots group supported by Global Rights and Kukah Center has trained 200 local vigilante members on community policing strategies in Sokoto state.
Addressing participants at the two-day training program, the CDC Chairman and District head of Gagi in Sokoto South local government, Sani Umar-Jabbi, said the efforts were aimed at strengthening vigilante’s capacity, understanding, and working relationship with conventional and statutory security agencies and other community members.
He said participants were drawn from Gagi District and surrounding Communities in the Dange/ Shuni local government area of the state, while officers from Nigerian Police and Department of Security Services (DSS) were engaged for discussions and shared experiences.
He explored the importance of enhancing community policing strategies among Nigerian citizens in recognition that the population of security men policing our environments was scarce and needed the public to complement their services.
According to the CDC Chairman, vigilantes were community volunteers having no proper training, financial support, or other official considerations despite their efforts to safeguard people’s lives and properties.
He enjoined leaders and community groups to support vigilante groups in their respective domains, stressing that their services were desirable and needed guides to achieve maximum success.
In a presentation, Mr Peter Daniel from DSS Sokoto Command dwelled on the information and communication techniques for early warning as well as community engagement for sustainable information sharing.
Daniel explained the value of information defended its credibility, reliability, and acceptability, and urged community vigilantes to be supporting security agencies at all times.
He said disseminating right and relevant information among community members contributes to public awareness as well as shapes public focus on security situations.
CSP AbdulAziz Baura, who represented Sokoto State Police Commissioner, CP Hayatu Kaigama, urged participants to always relate with their Divisional Police Officers in their respective areas on every issue.
Baura educate the participants on tactical operations and strategies, the need for harmonization and synergy between security agencies and vigilante groups as well as advocacy and resource mobilization among the vigilante community.
He traced the history of vigilante groups that existed since 1870 and contributed to community guards before the establishment of security agencies such as police and others.
According to him, the operation of vigilante members was desirable and emphasized that more capacity-building training is needed to strengthen their services.
The Secretary of the CDC, Miss Sadiya Bello, who spoke on women’s inclusion for sustainable development and resilience in the security issues urged husbands and community leaders to understand women’s predicaments and enhance their economic empowerment.
The representative of Global Rights, Margret Amadu assured of more support on enhancing community engagements and further commended CDC as well as other stakeholders for their commitment to improving security in Sokoto state.
The state vigilantes’ leader, Malam Murtala Aminu, expressed appreciation for the efforts that would surely enhance their activities and solicited more support from the government, individuals, and groups.
The two-day event witnessed questions and answers on various security issues and ways to address them.
