Oyo Police sets up forum for effective community policing

The Oyo State Police Command on Monday inaugurated the Oyo State Eminent Persons Forum (EPF) as part of its efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

The EPF was introduced by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and is being replicated in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, represented at the ceremony by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake, called on all community leaders to collaborate with the police in ensuring security in their areas.

He said that local and conventional policing were needed to solve the security challenges in the state.

Mr Sam Adegbuyi, the Commissioner of Police, said that the initiative was aimed at ensuring active participation of the community in the security of the nation.

“There is no gainsaying that community policing, as practised all over the world, has become a sine qua non for solving myriad of security problems confronting every nation.

“This has proved to be an effective instrument for sustainable peace and tranquillity needed for cultural, sociopolitical and economic activities to thrive in a democratic society like ours,” he said.

He said that many security challenges like insurgency, militancy, kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, cattle rustling, among others could be solved through collaborative efforts of stakeholders.

Members of the EPF inaugurated at the event include traditional rulers, labour and transport union leaders, religious leaders, retired policemen, military men and the media community.