By Blessing Odega
Cleen Foundation, a Non- Governmental Organisation has called for stronger collaboration between citizens and security agencies to build safer and more resilient communities amid evolving security threats.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Mr Peter Maduoma, made the call on Wednesday in Jos, during a stakeholder engagement on community resilience and adaptation to security threats.
Maduoma, who was represented by the Programme Manager, Mrs Chigozirim Okoro, said effective security management required active partnership between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
He said the engagement was aimed at fostering trust, improving information sharing and strengthening collaboration between citizens, the police and other critical stakeholders.
According to him, building community resilience is essential in addressing emerging security challenges, as communities are often the first responders to threats within their environment.
“Security is everyone’s responsibility, sustainable peace and safety can only be achieved when citizens and security agencies work together through trust, dialogue and shared commitment,” he said.
Police representatives at the engagement reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening community policing and urged residents to provide timely and credible information to aid crime prevention.
Similarly, participants identified major security gaps, concerns affecting communities and called for stronger accountability, community policing and regular dialogue between communities and security agencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two -day event which commenced on Tuesday, brought together community leaders, civil society organisations, youth and women groups, police officers and personnels of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to deliberate on strategies for enhancing community safety.
The programme forms part of Cleen Foundation’s broader efforts at promoting democratic governance, public safety and citizen participation in security management across Nigeria. (NAN)
Edited by Gabriel Yough
