The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Adebola Hamzat has said that the situation in the country has called for community policing, saying that the issue of security could no longer be handled by the government alone.
CP Hamzat spoke during the flag-off of the construction of a police station initiated by a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Waheed Akintayo for residents of Egbeda Atuba Community in Oluyole state constituency.
According to the CP, the essence of community policing is to bring policing closer to the people and ensure that every individual lives in a safe and secure environment.
While commending the lawmaker, Hon. Waheed Akintayo for the initiative, CP Hamzat disclosed that the lawmaker was complimenting the responsibility of the government in providing security for the people at the grassroots.
He said: “I am very much happy with what Hon. Waheed Akintayo is doing for his constituents in terms of security. If we see somebody that is doing this, such a person deserves absolute commendation.
“Ordinarily, what he is doing is the sole responsibility of the government at both federal and state levels as enshrined in the constitution which stipulates that the security of lives and property shall be the primary responsibility of the government
“So, doing this for the people in this community, I will say that the people here have sent a right representative to the House of Assembly to represent them. Some people may want to criticize him for doing this but I want to tell you that what he is doing is necessary.
“Having provided a free health insurance scheme for 500 constituents for people to live a healthy life, the next thing is to provide a place where the police will be working to scare away the hoodlums and thuggery. What he is doing is also in tandem with what Governor Makinde is doing for the police in the state.
“In the last 7 months of my assumption in office as the CP in Oyo State, Governor Makinde has accorded great priority to the issue of security. There was never a time we approached him for security matters that he didn’t respond swiftly.
“So if Governor Makinde is making his efforts, local government chairmen are making their efforts and the state lawmakers are making their efforts like Hon. Waheed Akintayo, the PCRC and other local security groups are making their own, the better for the people in the state.”
CP Hamzat called on the people in the state to continue to assist the police by reporting any suspicious movement or activities they notice in their environment.
Earlier in his welcome speech, Hon. Akintayo who is the Chairman House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs and ICT disclosed that he decided to construct the project that the Muslim Egbeda Atuba Community had made spirited efforts to build in the last 13 years to bring policing nearest to them.
He said: “Before now, residents of Pegba, Onila, Muslim Egbeda Atuba in Ward 3, Muslim/Mosfala in Ward 4, Olomi, Olunde, Ile Shehu, Boluwaji in Ward 5, Ayegun in Ward 1 and Alata in ward 6 rely on police station at Ogbere Tioya in Ona Ara local government and Sanyo police station in Ibadan South East anytime the attention of the police is needed for criminal activities in their respected communities.
“The situation makes me feel bad and I made up my mind to ensure the completion of this project which has been abandoned for well over 13 years. This project is for the entire Oluyole state constituency and it will complement the efforts of the government of Governor Seyi Makinde in the area of security.”
Source: The Nation
