The level of security challenges plaguing the country presently requires a participatory approach especially at the rural areas. The Neighborhood Watch programme, adopted by the Enugu state government has bestowed accolades to the Government following its effectiveness in reducing crime in the state. IFEANYI EZUGWU, reviews the programme while calling for greater support from all critical stakeholders in the business of security nationwide.
Nigeria is obviously in an extreme precarious situation stemming from security challenges dogging the nation from all fronts which has drived the country to a cliff-hanger.
Hapless Nigerians has continually thrown their hands up in the air as gory tales and pictorial evidences of various forms of crime besiege the nation.
These security challenges appears to have defied virtually all known strategies adopted by the conventional security agencies vested with the primary responsibility of protection of lives and property.
Cases of herdsmen in arm duel with host communities, rape, arson, kidnapping for ransom, murder, assassination, robbery have unabatedly cavorted the landscape in a braven manner prompting the citizenry to pose in akimbo whenever news of such dastardly act rents the airwaves.
The prevailing situation makes it sublimely imperative for security agencies in the country to trigger a paradigm shift following the dynamics of the security challenges using contemporary methodology.
From a panoramic assessment of the relative peace that exist in Enugu state which has attracted eulogizes from even the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar recently, one will adduce that the citizen participatory security machinery instituted by the state government is firing from all cylinders.
Tagged Neighborhood Watch Programme by the state and established by Law in 2006, the programme seeks to partner with the police both at the rural and urban centers in tackling crime in the state.
Vested with the authority to arrest and hand over suspects to the Nigeria Police for investigation and prosecution, the body has a tradition of selecting men of proven integrity to stir the of its leadership in all areas they where exist.
Seven hundred and fifty of these associations has been inaugurated already with the onerous task of partnering with Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) for the sanitation of the state, training, seminars and workshop are equally conducted for the staff/members of Neighborhood Association periodically with a view to ensure strict adherence to the Law establishing them to eschew abuse of power.
The Watch Group equally assists the management of NNPC Enugu in provision of security in all communities that oil pipelines passed through.
Apart from its responsibilities, the Group which is established under the Ministry Human Capital and Poverty Reduction headed by Mr. Godwin Ogenyi, receives support from the state government in form of purchase of security equipments, maintenance of data bank of all registered members, provision of allowances to members, issuance of identity cards, provision of uniforms, conducting bi-monthly forum for the Watch Group and sourcing for grants and other services for the promotion of social and economic interest of Neighborhood Association.
Precisely on 13th August, the performance of the Group in reducing crime in the state became a cynosure to the Justice for All of the Department of International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.
DFID identified Neighborhood Watch as Voluntary Policing Sector (VPS) which stimulated their libido to organize a seminar at the Enugu-North council headquarters in collaboration with the Police.
“In recognition of the fact that issues of state security and safety cannot be left only to the police, all hands needs to be on deck to ensure a close working relationship between police and Neighborhood Watch” DFID explained.
They used the occasion to donate 300 pieces of Rain boots, Whistle and Arm bands each to the Group.
Other items includes; 160 pieces of rechargeable flashlight, 140 pieces of non-rechargeable flashlight,210 pairs of batteries for flashlight.
Representative of the state governor, Sullivan Chime, the secretary to the government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo, noted that, “Government is bent on improving the standard of living of the people through security of lives and property which is cardinal to Gov. Chime’s administration”.
As the saying goes; “havens help those whom help themselves”, the universe will be conspiring in favour of the laudable initiative as enunciated by the state government which is evidenced in the low level of crime permeating all nooks and cranny of the Coal city.
