The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has commended the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) for its sustained partnership and support for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Jimoh made the commendation on Saturday at the Patrons and Honorary Members’ Investiture and Award Ceremony of the PCRC, Zone 2 Command, held at the Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
Jimoh was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr Adamu Mohammed.
According to Jimoh, the PCRC is an important organisation that has contributed to strengthening police-community relations.
He noted that the PCRC had a strong presence across the country, including Abuja, reflecting its close association with the police.
“Everywhere you go, there is a PCRC. It is very important. We work together in partnership, we move together and we’ll continue to grow together,” he said.
Jimoh said the PCRC had witnessed the evolution of the NPF, expressing confidence that it would remain relevant to the future of policing in Nigeria.
“PCRC has seen the early police force, the present one, and I am sure the PCRSwill be with the future police,” he said.
Jimoh urged the PCRC leadership and members to sustain the progress recorded and continue to work closely with the police.
The National Chairman, PCRC, Mr Ibraheem Olaniyan, called for sustained support for the police to strengthen community policing and security across the country.
Olaniyan said that the PCRC was established 42 years ago to support the police and strengthen its relationship with communities.
He said the committee’s contributions went beyond financial support, stressing that members also provided advice, encouragement, physical presence and other forms of assistance.
Olaniyan said the appointment of Mr Olatunji Disu as Inspector-General of Police was a source of pride to the PCRC, saying it represented a reward for the committee’s longstanding contributions to policing.
He said the PCRC would continue to work with the police leadership to promote practical community policing and provide necessary support to the force.
The national chairman said the committee had introduced official digital identification cards and uniforms to strengthen its identity and operations across the country.
He urged the newly inducted patrons and honorary members to support programmes aimed at protecting schools and preventing cultism and other forms of criminality among youths.
He expressed confidence in Jimoh’s leadership at Zone 2 Command, describing him as one of the best police officers in the country.
Also, the Chairman, PCRC Zone 2 Command, Mr Samson Popoola, called for stronger collaboration between the police and communities to tackle emerging security challenges.
Popoola said security was not the exclusive responsibility of the police, stressing that effective policing required trust, intelligence sharing, mutual respect and sustained collaboration.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen the partnership through community engagement, proactive crime prevention, youth empowerment and support for police welfare.
Popoola commended the newly invested patrons, honorary members and award recipients for their contributions to the growth and development of the PCRC.
He reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to deepen collaboration with the police, government and other stakeholders to promote peace and public trust.
The Chairman of PCRC, Lagos State Command, Mr Kehinde Showemimo, also called for sustained support for the police to enhance the security of lives and property.
Showemimo said support for the police went beyond financial contributions, noting that members also contribute their time, advice, prayers, physical presence and encouragement.
He urged the newly inducted patrons and honorary members to remain committed to securing lives and property.
One of the newly inducted patrons, Mr Josiah Anyanele, pledged to bring policing closer to communities through the establishment of more police posts.
Anyanele, the Chairman and Managing Director, Abba Industries Ltd. said the initiative was necessary because his factory was located in an area where the nearest police station was relatively far from the community.
According to him, establishing a police post closer to a community would enhance communication, improve security and help curb criminal activities.
Anyanele expressed appreciation for being appointed as a patron, saying he’ll be happy to contribute to community security.