By Aga Samuel Imoter(Jalingo)
The Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has convened a stakeholders’ consultative meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration in crime prevention and enhancing public peace and safety across the state.
The engagement, held at the Command Headquarters in Jalingo, was themed “Crime Fighting Initiative: Sustaining Community Partnership.” It brought together top security officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, government representatives, and members of various trade unions to deliberate on practical strategies for addressing security challenges in the state.
Among the dignitaries present were the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Baba Zango, Department of Research and Planning, and Zachariah Fera Achinyan, Department of Force Intelligence. Representatives of the Nigerian Army, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigerian Customs Service, as well as traditional and community leaders, also attended the meeting.
In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Command, Moorkwap Sebastine Dongshal, welcomed the visiting Deputy Inspectors-General of Police on their operational assessment visit to the state.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for his visionary leadership and commitment to strengthening policing through policy implementation, security assessments, stakeholder engagement, and effective crime-fighting strategies across commands nationwide.
CP Dongshal briefed the visiting officers on the prevailing security challenges confronting Taraba State, including communal clashes, farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping, armed robbery, and trans-border crimes. He noted that despite these challenges, the command has remained resolute in its mandate of safeguarding lives and property through intelligence-led policing, community engagement, strategic deployment of personnel, and close collaboration with sister security agencies and stakeholders.
The Commissioner also highlighted some of the operational constraints affecting the command, including inadequate operational vehicles, poor barrack accommodation, shortage of manpower, and an insufficient number of police divisions across the state.
Despite these challenges, he assured stakeholders that the command remains focused and committed to maintaining peace, security, and public order throughout Taraba State.
The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, identify emerging security concerns, and strengthen partnerships aimed at promoting sustainable peace and public safety across the state.
In his response, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Baba Zango, commended the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Command, CP Moorkwap Sebastine Dongshal, for his comprehensive briefing and the command’s unwavering commitment to tackling the state’s security challenges despite operational constraints.
The DIG lauded the command’s proactive adoption of intelligence-led policing, community engagement, and inter-agency collaboration, describing them as critical components in addressing contemporary security threats. He assured the command that the concerns raised, particularly those relating to inadequate logistics, manpower shortages, and accommodation, would be conveyed to the Inspector-General of Police for necessary attention.
He emphasized that effective policing cannot be achieved by the police alone, stressing that sustainable peace and security require the active participation of traditional institutions, community leaders, youth groups, religious organizations, and other stakeholders.
According to him, the Inspector-General of Police remains committed to strengthening community policing, enhancing operational capacity, and fostering stronger partnerships between the police and the public to ensure a safer and more secure Nigeria.
The DIG urged residents of Taraba State to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible information that would assist in preventing crime and apprehending criminal elements. He also called on community leaders to promote peaceful coexistence and dialogue in resolving disputes, particularly in areas prone to communal and farmer-herder conflicts.
Stakeholders at the meeting commended the Nigeria Police Force for creating a platform for open dialogue on security issues affecting the state. They pledged to strengthen collaboration with security agencies through intelligence sharing, community sensitization, and collective efforts aimed at preventing crime and promoting lasting peace.
The stakeholders further appealed for sustained engagement between security agencies and communities, expressing optimism that the resolutions reached during the consultative meeting would significantly enhance public safety, strengthen trust between citizens and law enforcement, and contribute to lasting peace and development across Taraba State
