PCRC leadership workshop themed “Collaborative Security and Community Synergy,”

 Nigeria police has gone a long way in Building collaborative Security Synergy within its communities.

The Nigeria Police Force has called for stronger partnerships between law enforcement and citizens, stressing that collaboration, intelligence sharing, and community inclusion are vital to tackling insecurity nationwide.

This appeal was made during a leadership workshop themed “Collaborative Security and Community Synergy,” organized by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), a body established to build trust between the police and the public.

Representing Assistant Inspector General of Police Mohammed Gumel, DCP Magaji said crime can only be effectively reduced through joint efforts. “The collective collaboration of the police and civilians is the only means to bring down crime and criminality in our society,” he noted. Magaji highlighted the PCRC’s four-decade record of fostering accountability, inclusiveness, and stability in police-community relations.

National Chairman of the PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Ibraheem Olaniyan, acknowledged the committee’s challenges but emphasized its role in promoting volunteerism, capacity building, intelligence gathering, and rapid response. He urged participants to approach the workshop with open minds and a determination to turn discussions into tangible results that improve security in homes and neighborhoods.

The Minister of Women Affairs, represented by Iman Suleiman, underscored the importance of women’s involvement in peacebuilding and security. She called for greater cooperation between police and women in decision-making processes, stressing that “by working together, we can build safer and more resilient communities across Nigeria.”

Ambassador Austen Yong, National Coordinator of the PCRC Monitoring Unit, traced the committee’s history to its formal launch in Nigeria on April 27, 2004. He explained that the workshop was designed to equip participants with tools for early threat recognition and effective communication of intelligence to strengthen collective vigilance.

Also speaking, Professor David Moveh of Ahmadu Bello University emphasized the importance of grassroots intelligence in shaping proactive security strategies. He argued that local communities are critical in providing timely information that enables authorities to prevent crimes before they escalate.

Representing the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Vitalus Okafor stressed that security challenges are best addressed at the grassroots. “We need a deliberate strategy of collaborative security anchored on community synergy. Challenges are best confronted where they are felt most, rather than waiting for directives from above after crises escalate,” he said.

The workshop reinforced the central role of community-police cooperation in enhancing public safety, highlighting the need for mutual trust, inclusivity, and sustained intelligence sharing to strengthen Nigeria’s fight against crime.