Street Traders, Others Vital Agents in Fighting Criminality-PCRC National Chairman 

By Olu Benjamin

Alhaji Olaniyan Ibrahim, National Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has charged members of the committee in Nasarawa state to engage street traders, others as vital agents in the fight against criminality.

He gave the charge in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state on Wednesday at the Inauguration ceremony of the newly elected Nasarawa state exco and the 41st anniversary celebration of the PCRC.

Ibrahim in his speech admonished the newly elected exco not to underrate or overlook the vital role prostitutes, miners, hoteliers, street hawkers, beggars, commercial motorcyclists can play in helping to fight criminality in their communities.

“The security of lives and properties is beyond what we can leave in the hands of the Nigerian police and other security outfits. If the miners are ready to give information and expose kidnappers, honestly the days of kidnappers in this state are numbered.

“If the hoteliers, landlords, okada riders and prostitutes are ready to help fight these criminal elements, honestly a lot will be achieved. So don’t underrate anybody.

“Engage and bring everybody on board because what a prostitute, commercial motorcyclists, street traders can see and know, some of us here can not see it. So they are very vital in the fight against criminality. Don’t underrate or overlook them. Work closely with them,” he said.

He added “When I was chairman of PCRC in one of the states, we worked closely with prostitutes in small hotel. We did not undermine them and through information from them we achieved a lot.”

The national chairman reminded the new Nasarawa PCRC exco that security had nothing to do with status, religion, tribe or political affiliation hence the need to operate an open door policy to succeed in the fight against criminality.

“Security is everybody’s business. We must be valuable partners to try Nigerian Police. In PCRC we used to say something which is if you see something, say something. If we all work with this in Nigeria and collaborate with everyone, the criminal elements in Nigeria will run away,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr David Abuluya, Nasarawa state chairman of PCRC in his acceptance speech assured the gathering that there will be more peace and security given the caliber of excos elected to run the PCRC in Nasarawa state.

“I also want to crave the indulgence of the police and other security outfits officials here, please help us to help you. We at PCRC are ready to help you fight insecurity challenges in the state. With the caliber of people here, I am overwhelmed. I want to assure you we will do our best,” he said.

He explained that PCRC is more of surveillance of information gathering which is then taken to the police authorities for necessary action to be taken based on the information given.

He said his team’s goal is to focus more in the rural areas across the state, gather information and enlighten the rural dwellers on what to do to help the police and other security outfits reduce insecurity to the barest minimum.

“We will focus in the rural areas because the urban areas are enjoying adequate security but the rural areas are the ones suffering. We will engage in enlightenment and emphasize on community policing everywhere,” he said.

Our reporter gathered that the PCRC was initiated under the leadership of former Inspector General of Police IGP Etim Inyang in 1984 to foster a collaborative relationship between the police and the community with the goal of improving security and promoting peaceful coexistence.

Members of the newly inaugurated Nasarawa PCRC excos are: Mr David Abuluya as chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, Deputy chairman, Mr Ibrahim Babayo, Vice chairman special duties, Mrs Beauty Okon, Financial secretary, Hajiya Hassana Maidoki, treasurer and Mallam Suleiman Halilu, Public Relations Officer.

Others are Mr Danlami Warande, Ex officio, Mrs Pauline Gbande, Ex officio, Mrs Sarah Irukera, ex officio, Mr Attah Abubakar, Assistant Organizing Secretary, Mr Prosper Anson, Provost Marshal, Mr Douglas Dominic, Organizing Secretary and Mr Philip Okorie as Auditor.

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