Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong on Sunday said his administration would continue to pay attention to the security of lives and property by adopting various measures to foster peaceful coexistence and also deal with crime and criminality.
Lalong made this known while speaking at the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance day church service held at the COCIN headquarters church in Jos.
“I am aware of the incidences of kidnapping, cultism, and other violent crimes in some parts of Plateau State. The Government is working hard with the security agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the ugly incidences are tackled. “
Last month, I signed the Anti-kidnapping, Land grabbing, Cultism, and Violence-related matters bill passed by the State House of Assembly into law. By that law, anyone convicted of kidnapping in Plateau State will be sentenced to death while cultism and other violent crimes attract various terms of imprisonment.
The Governor who said that he remains a firm believer in Community Policing stressed that he is convinced this can enable the state to tackle the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria more effectively.
“We have to be proactive in preventing crimes through intelligence gathering and ensuring rapid response to any distress.”
In his words ” This is why even before the Federal Government decided to implement the Community Policing Initiative, we engaged stakeholders in the State towards strengthening our Operation Rainbow to provide grassroots policing. “
He said that” In December last year, we inaugurated 595 Community Police constables who were trained and deployed to the 17 Local Government Areas to assist law enforcement agencies, particularly the police in intelligence gathering and other security operations. “
” Since security is everybody’s business, I appeal to all citizens to always be security conscious and participate in protecting themselves against criminals before security agencies respond to their distress calls. Let us not live care-free and expect the security personnel to do everything. “
Lalong further said that “The security agencies as we all know have challenges of manpower, logistics and equipment as well as training which most times delay their response and effectiveness. We need to join hands with them by doing our part and also passing accurate and timely information to them.”
He called on the people of the state to support security agencies at all times.
“Rather than use the bad conduct of a few to condemn all of them, let us isolate the bad ones and ensure that they are removed. We cannot afford to demoralize our gallant men and women at this time of insecurity in our country. We saw what happened during the ENSARS protests when they came under attack physically and morally. “
He further said ” On the issue of our brother Rev. Polycarp Zongo who has been in captivity for months now, I want us to keep hope alive and never give up. The State and Federal Government is working with the Church to ensure that he regains his freedom. We cannot disclose everything here, but I urge you not to cease praying for him and all others who are in captivity.
By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos
