Group Advocates For Community Policing As Panacea To Security Challenges

Ezumezu Isinweke, the apex socio-cultural body of Ihitte-Uboma Local Government Area in Imo has advocated the formation of local security outfits as a panacea to the rising security challenges in the country.

The President General of Umuderim Development Union, Mr. Geoffrey Iwuagwu, and guest speaker made the call at a virtual conference organized by the group in Owerri on Tuesday.

Speaking on the topic, “Security and Local Policing” Iwuagwu said that local communities in the country needed to develop legitimate ways of securing the lives and property of people in their respective communities.

Iwuagwu, a retired superintendent of Police, who said that this would go a long way in curbing insecurity, recommended that the process should be in accordance with the stipulated laws of the country.

“These outfits should be registered with the approval of the state Commissioners of Police and in accordance with the laws of the country,” he said.

He, however, said that the increasing rate of insecurity in the country could be traced to the consumption of hard drugs by the youth, frustration, and despair caused by poverty and breakdown of social institutions.

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Iwuagwu added that attitudinal disorder among government employees and politicians which he said bred frustration, disappointment, and aggression were contributory to the security challenges.

“There is also the issue of proliferation of arms and ammunition into the wrong hands which led to the Inspector General of Police revoking all licenses issued in 2019.

“Anybody bearing arms no matter the type is seen to be committing an offense called the unlawful possession of firearms”, he said.

He further advocated the implementation of government industrial policies that encourage industries to start employing the country’s growing population.

The retired police officer urged communities to create awareness with relevant government and non-governmental organizations on the dangers of illegal usage of hard drugs.

According to him, this will help bring sanity into the society and return the country to the peaceful entity it used to be.