Community Policing: Sokoto Forum Partners with Police Command to Boost Security

In a major step towards combating the persistent insecurity in Sokoto State, the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF), a non-governmental organization dedicated to the state’s development, has announced a formal partnership with the Sokoto State Police Command. The collaboration, unveiled at a stakeholders’ meeting, aims to create a more integrated and community-driven approach to security.

The interim chairman of SAF, Professor Ahmad Wali, announced that the forum has set up 11 sectoral working groups to tackle some of the state’s most pressing problems, with security being a top priority. “These committees will design a comprehensive strategy to address the issue of out-of-school children and enhance the quality of education,” Wali stated. “They will also propose innovative solutions to end banditry and ensure public safety, as well as craft approaches to improve healthcare delivery across all parts of the state.”

This partnership comes at a critical time for Sokoto State, which has been severely affected by the activities of armed bandits, kidnappers, and other criminal groups. Recent reports from communities in areas like Tureta and Dange/Shuni have highlighted a deteriorating situation, with residents abandoning their homes and farmlands due to frequent attacks. The State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has previously invested billions of naira in security, including the donation of patrol vans and the establishment of a community guard corps, but the security challenges remain.

The collaboration between SAF and the police command is expected to leverage a grassroots approach to intelligence gathering and public engagement. By involving local experts and community leaders, the forum hopes to provide police with actionable intelligence and build the trust needed for effective policing. The partnership is also seen as a crucial step in promoting accountability in governance and ensuring that security solutions are data-driven and inclusive.

The forum’s co-chairman, Professor Riskuwa Shehu, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to providing long-term, sustainable solutions. “We are not politicians, and this forum is not working for anybody but for everybody,” he said, emphasizing that SAF is composed of a diverse range of stakeholders, from academics and business leaders to youth groups and farmers. This joint effort between a major civil society group and the police command is a testament to the growing realization that public safety requires a united front that goes beyond government intervention.