The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated that security is a shared responsibility, urging citizens to actively support law enforcement by utilising official emergency communication channels to report crimes and suspicious activities.
The Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the North Central zone, DIG Ishyaku Mohammed, made the appeal on Monday in Lokoja during a stakeholders’ engagement held at the Kogi State Police Command headquarters.
The meeting brought together a wide range of participants, including traditional rulers, members of the Police Community Relations Committee, representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students, the Nigerian Bar Association, youth organisations, civil society groups, and non-governmental organisations.
DIG Mohammed said the Police Force has provided dedicated emergency lines and communication platforms, urging members of the public to make effective use of them in reporting security threats.
He explained that his visit to Kogi State was on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Rilwan Olatunji Disu, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between the police and the public in safeguarding communities.
According to him, sustainable security cannot be achieved by the police alone, stressing that citizens must play active roles in intelligence sharing and community vigilance.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. The police cannot secure communities without the cooperation of the people,” he said.
He added that no part of the country would be allowed to fall into the hands of criminals, noting that collective effort remains essential in preventing crime and maintaining peace.
DIG Mohammed also stressed the importance of community-based security awareness, stating that every segment of society has a role to play in identifying and preventing threats before they escalate.
He called on traditional rulers to remain observant within their domains, while religious leaders were encouraged to promote peace and moral values in their teachings.
Parents, he said, must pay closer attention to their children, while youth groups and community leaders should act as partners in promoting peace and reporting suspicious activities.
“There is no better security strategy than one built on the involvement of the people it is meant to protect,” he said.
He further emphasised that timely information remains one of the most effective tools in combating crime, urging residents to report unusual movements, suspicious gatherings, criminal hideouts, illegal arms possession, drug-related activities, and kidnapping threats.
“The police have provided emergency lines. No piece of information is useless. Even the smallest tip can prevent a major crime or save lives,” he added.
The DIG also warned communities against shielding criminals, stating that protecting offenders—whether as relatives or acquaintances—only worsens insecurity and endangers society.
“Anyone who shelters criminals becomes part of the problem. Communities must reject criminality in all its forms,” he said