Security
Mr Rabiu Garba, a Chief Superintendent of Police, has advised his colleagues to build public confidence through diligent service. Garba, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Fegge police station, Onitsha gave the advice in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Onitsha.
NAN recalls that Garba was the police officer whose video went viral during the 2020 #EndSARS nationwide protest because armed protesters spared burning his station because the DPO has good working relationship with the community. He said that the Police Force was a strategic instrument of governance machinery and that officers must discharge their duties in line with extant laws and utmost respect for the people.
“A policeman should know that there is a social contract between the government and the people; he should understand that the people gave government power to act on their behalf meaning that power belongs to the people.
“It is the duty of the Police officer to secure the people, that is why they call us public servants, he is not employed to be a monster to the community he is serving.
“A community that obeys law and order, a community that pays tax has right to security and safety while carrying out lawful economic activities,” he said. Garba said, “Inspector-General of Police (I-G) had been emphasising on Community Policing; an officer must know and respect the feeling of the community.
“As an officer, I realised that I have to be close to my community, understand their problems, know how it affects them and find a away to proffer solution for them,” he said. On his experience during #EndSARS, he said police in his division enjoyed good protection from the community they were serving. He said most of his officers at Fegge wished the protest should not end because people were bringing food items and other gifts to them.
On why some of the facilities at Fegge police station were in dilapidated state, he said it was due to crowded financial challenges before government. Garba added that he did not want to go cap in hand to the community in a bid to improve on the facilities.
“There are very good people who volunteer on their own to show us appreciation.
“That is why we have a recreation building and office buildings. “But we cannot allow all manner of people to donate things because that would affect crime fighting,” he said.(NAN)
Mar 12, 2021 @ 4;48pm
Tags: Police officer advises colleagues to build public confidence via diligent service
