The National Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee, Mogaji Ibrahim-Olaniyan has urged Nigerians to support the police to improve security in the country.

He stated this during the inauguration of the newly elected Gombe State PCRC executive members, on Wednesday in Gombe.

Mr Ibrahim-Olaniyan said the gesture was imperative towards assisting the police to make the state and Nigeria crime-free.

He said that one of the best ways to support the police was to highlight the good things the officers are doing, describing it, “as one of the best motivations that could be offered to the police.’’

According to him, the PCRC has been advocating for the welfare of policemen, and galvanising support for them and other security agencies across the country because of their immense sacrifice for peace and security of Nigerians.

He said that community policing remained the best approach to policing anywhere in the world, hence, the need to support the police.

“There is nowhere police can do it all alone, and that is why it is important for Nigerians to continue to support security agencies so that peace and security would be guaranteed in the state and country,

“People should support the security agencies with timely and relevant information that would help nip crime in the bud. Also, we need to encourage our officers for every good act, especially the ones that reject bribes and still go ahead to arrest criminals.

“Recently, a police officer rejected a bribe of N8.5 million in Taraba, and in Lagos, another police rejected N4 million from drug barons, and no one is celebrating them. If a policeman does good, it doesn’t trend but should a police officer collect N100 bribe, you will see it trending, people will start sending it to everyone. In PCRC, it is a burden, we will continue to support policemen and advocate for better welfare for them,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim-Olaniyan commended the Inspector-General of Police; Kayode Egbetokun’s zero tolerance to bribery and corruption in the Nigeria Police Force.

This, he said, helped improve the public image of the police and contributed in building public confidence, a vital requirement for the success of community policing.

The PCRC chairman urged the newly inaugurated executives in Gombe State, to support security agencies in their effort to rid the state of crimes.

He also lauded Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hayatu Usman and traditional and community leaders for their efforts towards ensuring peace and security.

For his part, Mr Usman commended the PCRC for their support to the police towards ensuring a crime-free society.

The CP described the partnership between the police and the people of Gombe State as cordial, attributing the feat to the prevailing peace in the state.

He congratulated the newly inaugurated PCRC executives, describing the committee as a bridge between the police and the people, and enjoined them to work towards improving the police-community relations.

He further commended the state governor, Inuwa Yahaya for prioritising security and his administration’s support to the command.

Also, the Chairman of the PCRC, Garba Ubale, pledged to work towards improving good relations between the police and the people of the state.

The inaugurated officials include Adamu Saje, chairman, his deputy, Haruna Hina and Suleiman Muhammad as the publicity secretary.

The PCRC is a community policing-based organisation established by the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force in 1984.

It seeks to foster partnership between the police and respective communities in the country, to enhance efficient and effective policing of communities in Nigeria.

(NAN)