By Emeka Nwokocha
Partners for peace in the Niger Delta (P4P), Delta State Chapter, is taking positive steps to stem rising incidents of kidnapping and other acts of criminality in Delta State and promote a crime free society that engenders peace and socioeconomic development of the people.
Speaking at a one-day interactive session with stakeholders of Abraka and Obiaruku communities, held in Abraka, Ethiope East LGA, Delta State, tagged, “Project Intervention on Reducing Mass Kidnapping & Criminality in Selected Communities in Delta State,” the Coordinator of P4P, Delta State Chapter, Jennifer Okotie, said that the intervention was aimed at galvanizing support and contributions from stakeholders (security agencies, government, institutions, CSOs etc.) to curbing rising incidents of kidnapping and criminality across communities in Delta State.
Below: Mr. Fred Nohwo, CWC officer of P4P, delivering a speech at the event
She added that the programme was part of P4P’s ongoing interventions to stem the tide of kidnapping in Delta state, even as she implored the participants to participate fully in the session and make contributions as to what could be done differently to ensure violent crime (kidnapping) and criminalities are nipped in the bud.
She added that the contributions of the participants would form a communique that would further guide the government of the day and the security operatives on ways of improving security operations in the state.
In his presentation, entitled, “Importance of Collaboration/Information sharing between security agencies,” Mr. Richard Benin elaborated on the importance of security in the wellbeing of society, noting that security is everybody’s concern and that collective effort is needed to ensure safety and well-being of everybody.
Continuing, he emphasized the importance of information sharing among security agencies to ensure effective security operations. Benin further stated, “Information sharing could enhance performance, quicken response to distress calls, facilitate intelligence gathering and counterterrorism, prevent cross border crimes and enhance community-safety.”
He stressed the importance of synergy and collaborations among security agencies towards improving the performance of security operatives in curbing crimes.
Mr. Fred Nohwo, Delta State P4P Officer at Central Working Committee (CWC), in his presentation, entitled, “Communication and a Safe Society,” emphasized strongly, the importance of communication in effective security operations. He explained vividly the different forms of communication, adding that effective communication skills are needed for water tight security operations and effective performance of security operatives.
He however, identified the various barriers to communication to include physical, perceptual, emotional, cultural, language, gender, and interpersonal barriers.
Continuing, he implored security operatives to passionately learn the effective communication skills and diligently apply them in the course of their duties so as to achieving optimum result.
Speaking, ASP Collins Onye, representative of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Abraka Police Station, said that the programme was timely and important, stating that the police would give full support to every initiative to curb crime in Abraka and Delta state.
Continuing, he stated, “A crime free society is achievable when the security operatives are given the needed support and better equipment to carry out the duties,” adding that every security outfit plays a contributory role towards effective policing of society.
He implored the public to assist the police with relevant information that will aid them in performing their duties effectively and make sure that security of lives and property is guaranteed always.
Also speaking, the Afamu of Oruarivie Abraka Kingdom, Chief Phillip Onowujovwo, commended P4P for initiating the programme.
He stated that better performance of security operatives had been hindered by myriads of challenges in recent years. He charged the government to provide the necessary facilities and equipment such as vehicles, motorcycles, communication gadgets to enable efficient security operations in order to curb increasing crime rate in the communities.
He assured of the kingdom’s support to P4P and the security operatives in ensuring kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes are nipped in the bud in Abraka community.
Below: Mr. Richard Benin, expatiating a point during his presentation
Speaking, the commanders of Obiaruku vigilante outfit, Mr. Oriaku Azubuike, and his counterpart in Abraka, charged the government to adequately fund security operations in the state, stating that security outfits such as the vigilante, and the hunters association of Nigeria would be more efficient in their operations if they are provided the right equipment and facilities.
They assured that more efforts would be made by the vigilante security outfit to strengthen collaboration with other security agencies to improve policing in Abraka and Obiaruku communities.
Also speaking, Assistant Director at Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Jonathan Edijala, expressed the need for inclusion of security studies in both primary and secondary schools curricula.
He stated that the developing issues around security demand that children in primary and secondary schools should be taught security education, adding that such innovation would teach the primary school pupils, and the secondary school students the basics of security operations, including the duties of security operatives in preventing crimes, and protecting lives and property.
In the same vein, a civil society actor and member of P4P, Mr. Osakwe Uche, said the intervention project was necessary to activate a proactive driven security operations that would nip the rising criminality in the bud.
He expressed confidence that the ongoing building of synergy between the security agencies, being facilitated by P4P would address the frightening security situation in the state.
In order to aid the security operatives with relevant information on incidents of crime and enable accurate tracking of the incidents, officials of P4P taught the participants the effective and accurate method for reporting an incident of crime to the Prevent Team /Conflict Tracking platform of the P4P.
The participants include the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Abraka Vigilante outfit, Obiaruku Vigilante outfit, Hunters Association of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Education, Chiefs from Abraka Kingdom, National Orientation Agency (NOA), CSOs and other stakeholders.
