A nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) committed to peace and development has expressed concern over the spates of insecurity in the country and stressed the need for holistic action to stem the scourge and promote national development.
Towards this end, the Social Development and Empowerment Network (SREN) has enlisted the cooperation of the Nigeria Police and a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to drive the cause through advocacies, intelligence sharing, and social sensitisation.
Speaking while sealing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Police during a courtesy call to the Ekpene Divisional Police headquarters, the president of SREN, Dr. Daniel Eshett, explained that the collaboration became necessary to ensure effective synergy for crimes fighting.
He stated that the body “recognises the invaluable role of the Nigerian Police, particularly, that of the Division in maintaining law and order in the area, ensuring public safety, and upholding justice in the society.”
While commending the efforts of the DPO, CSP Benjamin Adeoye, officers and men of the Division, he used the medium to seek greater collaboration in building community engagement and public trust by “strengthening the bond between the Police and the people through sensitisation programmes, town hall meetings and other trust-building initiatives.”
Dr. Eshett emphasised the importance of creating security awareness, which, according to him, would enlighten and inform the public on security measures, crime reporting, and active participation in community policing.
Responding, CSP Adeoye, assured SREN, of the Division’s readiness to collaborate in the areas of information sharing, and public sensitisation on security issues within the area.
He highlighted the recent successes of the division which included the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers who had been operating in the area, attributing the achievements so far to efforts of officers and men of the division and the zero tolerance for crimes by the commissioner of Police (CP), Baba Azare.
Adeoye, therefore, pledged that the Police would “continue to work in line with best practices in policing that balances human rights and crime prevention.”
Also, the SREN delegation in a separate meeting with the leadership of the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) led by the state director, Otuekong Franklin Isong, stressed the need for effective collaboration with a coalition of CSOs to hold government and public officers to account.
At the meeting held at the CHRAN office in Uyo, the state capital, Eshiett, made a case for “synergy amongst NGOs to demand accountability and promote transparency in governance and public administration in Nigeria,” maintaining that “SREN recognises the critical importance of uniting forces to address Nigeria’s key socio-political challenges.”
Responding, the CHRAN director, Otuekong Isong, thanked the delegation and assured them of their commitment to guiding democracy and governments to deliver on the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
