By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin

The commissioner of police in Kwara state ,Adekimi Ojo Wednesday rallied stakeholders in a bid to collectively fashion out ways to end banditry and other pockets of criminalities troubling the state.

Speaking in the address he delivered at the Kwara state police summit with the theme:”Taking back out communities:The Police -Public Partnership Against Violent Crimes”held in Ilorin,he said,”the essence of the summit is to get the stakeholders together to discuss this emergent security challenges,dissect the problems ( cause and effect),profer solution (both long and short term) through Police Community Partnership, leveraging on Community Policing.

“This summit is out of strategies, prayers and action to reclaim our state of harmony.Together we can take back our communities.’

The commissioner advised the participants to ensure they put in their best in ensuring peace and security in state.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in his address at the event called for collective efforts to ensure effective policing and make the state the most secured and peaceful in the country.

Represented by his special Adviser and Councillor ,Alhaji Salaudeen Salahu , governor AbdulRazaq ,said the current administration has put the issues of security on high level of priority since inception .

He said experts have been appointed at different levels to support the state government on the issue of security.

Governor AbdulRazaq also explained that the state government has provided conducive atmosphere to ensure peaceful coexistence.

He noted that his administration has prioritised issue of poverty alleviation , adding that over ten thousand (10,000) youths have been employed to reduce unemployment in the society.

Governor AbdulRazaq commended the security agencies for ensuring that they contribute their quota towards ensuring safety and security in the state.

The governor also thanked President Bola Tinubu and the office of the National Security Adviser for prioritising the security of lives and property in the state and the country in general.

He also disclaimed that the state government does not have any hand in the viral video of criminals circulating on the social media.

In his lecture a security expert Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG)Adegboye Olafimihan said the security of the state should not be the exclusive responsibility of the government alone.

He said all hands must be on deck to ensure safety and security in the nooks and crannies of the state and the country in general.

Olafimihan explained that a lot of factors ranging from natural disasters, activities of militants, farmers herders disputes and banditry ,drug addiction among others have contributed greatly to insecurity in the country.

He called for adequate policing strategy and proper management of security threats in the society.

The security expert appealed for the rejection of stigmatisation of a particular ethnic group in the society to ensure peaceful coexistence.

Olafimihan advocated for the strengthening of community policing initiative by engaging the citizenry and communities to gather intelligence and make it work .

He said section 24 of the Police Act has properly explained the functions of the community policing to prevent crime.