The Osun State Police Command has called for renewed trust and cooperation between the police and residents of Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan Local Government Areas to promote peace and security in the communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Zungura, made the call through the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, at a peace and community engagement organised by the Area Commander, Ikire, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, Kalat Shamang.
Zungura said the engagement was part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between the police and members of the communities they serve, stressing that policing should be a collective responsibility.
He directed all Area Commanders in the state to organise similar engagements within their areas of responsibility to enable the police to understand community concerns and address them appropriately.
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The CP urged residents to trust the police while also calling on community members to play their part in maintaining peace and security.
According to him, “We are looking forward to a smooth relationship between the police and the people in order to have safe communities.”
Zungura also assured residents that no political party or politician would be given preferential treatment by the Command, urging stakeholders to put political differences behind them.
“Election has passed, let us move on. I assure that every complaint brought before the police would be investigated professionally and impartially,” he said.
The Commissioner warned police officers against becoming instruments in political disputes, stressing that any officer found acting inappropriately or in a partisan manner would be sanctioned accordingly.
He said fundamental human rights must be protected and respected at all times, adding that peaceful political activities should be allowed without unnecessary intimidation or harassment.
Zungura also called for greater involvement of stakeholders in community policing, noting that residents should contact Divisional Police Officers and members of the Police Community Relations Committee whenever necessary.
“Policing is for everybody and not just for the police. The main objective of the engagement is to build trust between the police and the community,” he said.
Speaking at the event, ACP Shamang said the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify the causes of the strained relationship between the police and residents and work towards finding solutions.
“We are not blaming anybody, but at the end of the day, we realised that two wrongs do not make a right. We all understand each other, and we need to move as a team,” he said.
Shamang disclosed that the engagement established that mistrust had developed partly from alleged perceptions of bias and unprofessional conduct by some police officers, while the crisis surrounding local government leadership and the governorship election had also contributed to tensions.
“Eighty to 90 per cent of the blame was pinned on the police. We are out for solutions and building peace,” he said.
The Area Commander added that the Command had deployed a new Divisional Police Officer to Ikire and warned criminals that the police would deal decisively with cases of armed robbery and other serious crimes.
“Tell the people that the new CP is out for business. Enough is enough. The DPOs are here, and they have been charged by the Commissioner of Police to do the right thing,” Shamang said.
He described Zungura as a man of few words but action, adding that the Commissioner was uncomfortable with the existing relationship between the police and the public and had directed measures to improve it.
The Sooko of Itako land, Oba Moruf Adesoji Fabowale, called for peace in the communities, saying, “We need peace in our communities, and we believe with this kind of forum everything is going to work out fine.”
Another stakeholder, Fasanya Samuel Kolawole, said the new Commissioner had given residents assurances of a new approach, promising that the people would cooperate with the police if the assurances were fulfilled.
Abiodun Oladoyin described the engagement as a positive step, saying, “This is the right thing that the police is doing here today.”
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