PCRC Kaduna: Now that the eagle has landed
By Bashir Rabe Mani
The need for security has indeed been one of the most important needs of man since time immemorial. Security refers to the protection of people, properties, and assets from various threats, risks, and vulnerabilities. It involves measures taken to prevent, detect, and respond to potential harm, danger, or loss.
Security can be categorized into different types, including: Physical security referring to protecting people and properties from physical harm or damage.
There is also Cybersecurity, referring to the protection of computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
The above is related to Information security, meaning protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction.
There is also personal security implying protecting individuals from harm, harassment, or exploitation. Also, national security means protecting a country’s interests, citizens, and infrastructure from external threats.
Impliedly, effective security measures involve risk assessment and management,threat detection and prevention, incident response and recovery, access control and authentication, surveillance and monitoring as well as training and awareness.
On the whole, the goal of security is to create a safe and secure environment that protects people, properties, and assets from harm, while also promoting trust, confidence, and stability.
Premised on the Nigerian Constitution, security is addressed in various sections, particularly:
They include: Section 14(2)(b) that states: “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
This section emphasizes the importance of security as a fundamental responsibility of the government.
In the same vein, Section 217(1)states: “There shall be an armed forces for the Federation which shall consist of an army, a navy, an air force.” This section establishes the armed forces as a key institution for national security.
Also, Section 218(1) provides: “The Federation shall establish a police force for the Federation.” This section establishes the Nigeria Police Force as a primary agency for maintaining internal security.
In a related development, Section 305 states: “Nothing in this Constitution shall preclude a House of Assembly from making laws relating to… public safety and public order.”
This section empowers state governments to make laws related to public safety and order.
Also, Chapter IV provides: “Fundamental Rights” – various sections, such as Section 33 (right to life), Section 34 (right to dignity), and Section 35 (right to personal liberty), implicitly relate to security.
These provisions collectively underscore the importance of security in Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
However, it is instrumental to state that the provision of security across the globe is not the responsibility of the government alone and Nigeria is never an exception. So,various groups, individuals and corporate entities have been doing their best to complement the efforts of the government in the above.
It is also pertinent to note that the Federal Government, assisted by the other sub-nationals have been working round the clock, investing humungous human and financial resources to fully secure the lives and property of Nigerians.
In the above direction, the top management of the Nigeria Police Force has been facilitating community policing.This is in the area of bolstering community policing that plays a vital role in maintaining law and order, building trust, and fostering a sense of safety and security within communities.
By working together, community policing can help to create safer, more cohesive communities where everyone feels valued, respected, and protected.
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Nigeria is a vital organization that fosters cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the community. Established to address the country’s high crime rate, the PCRC aims to secure lives and property, promoting a safer environment for all Nigerians.
PCRC works to establish trust between law enforcement and the community, encouraging cooperation and collaboration. By engaging with the community, PCRC helps identify potential crime hotspots and works to prevent crimes before they occur.
To achieve its objectives, PCRC employs community policing strategies, which involve collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community members to identify and address security concerns.
Overall, the PCRC plays a crucial role in promoting public safety, building trust, and fostering a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community in Nigeria.
It is extremely delighting that PCRC, Kaduna State chapter is now more alive, vibrant and composed of men of integrity, honour, commitment, patriotism,piety and dedication.
There is therefore no surprise when the members of PCRC in Kaduna State and its national leadership reposed tremendous confidence in the new executives with the elegant, indefatigable and ever-dexterous man of his words and a man of the people at the helm of it’s affairs in the state.
The chapter was inaugurated some few weeks and the handing over and taking over ceremony was successfully conduced last weekend in Kaduna where the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), said it was fully committed to securing the lives and property of Nigerians. According to the committee, it will ensure this by strongly complementing the efforts of the Nigeria Police in diligently discharging its constitutional mandate.
The commitment was made in a message to the epochal event by the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan as represented by the Assistant National Secretary of the committee, Alhai Sadiq Momoh.
He said that PCRC would definitely do everything humanly possible to ensure that Police in the country hugely succeed in all their activities. He promised, “We will continue to be active and mutual partners with the Police for them to succeed in maintaining internal security. “Doing this is not the responsibility alone, hence all the law abiding citizens must positively contribute their own quotas in this direction.”
Olaniyan further expressed delight that they would henceforth be actively involved in the recruitment of new Police across the country.
He said, “This is a very good development as the move will ensure the recruitment of more qualified, disciplined and patriotic youths into the Nigeria Police Force.”
Olaniyan also charged the new executives to ensure unity, proactiveness and commitment to duty.
The Zone 14 Chairman of PCRC, retired ACG Suleiman Argungu,promised to provide wise counsel to the Kaduna state chapter, saying, “this is to make it suceed in turning the fortunes of the committee.”
He expressed confidence in the ability of the new leadership of the committee to assist the Police in boosting the security of the lives and the property of the people of the state.
Also speaking, the new State Chairman of PCRC in the state, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, vowed not to betray the tremendous confidence reposed on them.
He promised, “We will do our possible best to take PCRC in thes state to greater heights.
“We will work round the clock, sacrifice our time and resources to boslter a robust community policing.
“The task of providing security to the lives and property of Nigerians is not that of the Police or the other security agencies alone.
“As law abiding citizens, we all have a responsibility to assist the Police and other security agencies to safeguard the lives and property of Nigerians. “We will surely take PCRC in Kaduna state from its previous state of deep slumber to that of unwavering commitment to make it great again.”
It could be happily recalled that a fortnight ago, the Kaduna State Police Command said it would leverage the emergence of the new robust executives of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to combat the growing menace of cybercrimes in the state.
The then Commissioner of Police (CP), AIG Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in Kaduna at the inauguration of a 26-member new executives of PCRC in the state.
The new executive is being headed by an erudite elder statesman, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, including a Deputy Editor-in-Chief (DEIC)of the agency, Alhaji Abdul Hassan as Deputy Secretary. The oaths of office were administered on the new executives by a retired Assistant Editor-in-Chief (AEIC) of NAN, Alhaji Tanko Dada, National Vice Chairman, North-Central.
According to Ibrahim, the command will also actively partner with the committee to fight a myriad of crimes and all forms of criminality across the state. Representedby the Officer-in-Charge of Community Policing, CSP Titus Ibrahim, the CP decried that vibrant youths were involving themselves in cybercrimes and other forms of criminality.
“We will therefore team up with the new PCRC executives in the state to reverse the ugly trend so as to channel the huge potential of the youths to positive use,” Abdullahi said.
The CP further commended the committee for being an active partner of the Nigeria Police Force, saying that the members have been part of the success story of the command. He also underscored their role in gathering credible intelligence and the execution of many developmental projects.
The National President of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Olaniyan, also expressed delight that the committee in the state was more united and poised to take it to greater heights. Accordingto Olaniyan, the committee will also partner the various transport unions in the state to stem the tide of the movement of illicit drugs and illegal firearms,.among other crimes.
He said that PCRC was strongly committed to assisting the Police and other security agencies to guarantee the security of lives and property of Nigerians. Olaniyan who vowed that the peace in the Kaduna PCRC would be permanent, however warned against insolence, indiscipline, impersonation and insubordination by any member.He charged the members to be absolutely committed, loyal and dedicated, so as to take PCRC to greater heights.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Mansur Hassan, promised to work round the clock with the committee to further improve policing.He also corroborated the CP on the need to ensure the productive use of the energies of the youths for national development.
In his acceptance speech, the new PCRC Chairman, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed promised to be diligent and patriotic in the discharge of the all-important national assignment.He commended the members and national leadership of the committee for reposing tremendous confidence in him and his colleagues.
Mohammed promised, “We will piously uphold this utmost trust and confidence reposed in us and we will never fail you.”Wewill do our best to take PCRC to greater heights and bolster the security of lives and property of the people of the state and by extension, Nigerians.”The new PCRC team will also work round the clock to assist the Police in all their activities as this is a clarion call for more dedication and uprightness.”
It is really heartwarming that with the emergence of the brand new PCRC executive in Kaduna State, it’s set to restore it’s lost glory. The eagle, Alhaji Sanusi Mohammed, ably assisted by his dependable lieutenants, has indeed landed to take PCRC in the state to greater heights.
Mani, a journalist, is based in Kaduna.
