Community Collaboration Key To Defeating Crime, Says Retired AIG Mustapha

Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State, AIG Mustapha Mohammed has attributed his success in combating crime to collaboration with community stakeholders.

Mohammed, who recently retired from the Nigeria Police Force stated this during a farewell parade and briefing with journalists in Calabar on Thursday.

The retired police chief who spoke shortly after a farewell briefing during his Pull Out Parade in Calabar, said upon his assumption in office, he collaborated with critical stakeholders to enable him and his team to fight criminals.

He noted that there are variables used to measure threat to security and instability, among which is working closely with critical stakeholders in local communities which he considered effective in places like Bakassi and other places in the state.

The retired AIG stated that this approach enabled him and his team to effectively curb criminal activities in the zone.

AIG Mohammed (retd) stressed that with such approach, there was no crime committed under his watch without the knowledge on how to bring the situation under control.

He further disclosed to using the SWAT team to assess the strength and weaknesses of areas under his control after threat analysis after which he developed strategizes to crush criminal elements from their hideouts.

“You cannot ensure safety in any hostile area without collaboration with critical stakeholders and that what helped us.

“I advise my successor, whoever comes in, to continue from where I stopped. I have no regrets joining the police force to serving my fatherland Nigeria,” he said.

Mohammed urged young officers in places of authority to at all times toe the path of justice to guarantee peace, not only to the rich and powerful in the society but also the common man in the streets.

“In whatever you do as a police officer, ensure that there is justice and have the fear of God. That is the only way you can succeed,” he charged.

The retired AIG also disclosed that Cross River, Jigawa and Akwa Ibom states were the most peaceful states in Nigeria, in terms of commission of crime.