By Evelyn Usman
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has challenged Commissioners of Police, CPs, across the country to strengthen their engagement with communities under their jurisdictions, insisting that effective policing depends on public relations, regular contact and mutual understanding between the police and the people.
The IGP gave the charge during a virtual meeting with the CPs, where he urged them to assess their relationship with the communities they police and determine whether they had earned sufficient trust to engage residents, particularly during periods of tension.
Recalling the #EndSARS protests, Disu cited instances in which some Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) came out of their stations to engage protesters, with some persuaded to leave, as an example of how direct engagement could help manage tensions.
The IGP described the officers involved as examples of policemen who had established sufficient presence and relationship within their communities to influence public behaviour during a volatile period.
He said: “When these youths went to some police stations, some divisional police officers came out and addressed them and told them to go back, and they listened to them.Those are the police officers who have been on ground.
“All of you should ask yourself a question: Can you stay in front of the people you police and talk to them and get the right response?” he asked.
The IGP also questioned whether the police commanders had sufficiently endeared themselves to the communities they serve.
“Have you endeared yourself to the people? I know those who are doing it among you, have you endeared yourself to the people?”
“Policing must change,” he declared. “Policing is not gragra .Policing is public relations. Policing is contact with the people you are policing. Policing is agreement between you and the people you are policing.”
Reactions from some social media handles on the video, suggested that the IGP’s directive had renewed attention on the need for police commanders to prioritise community engagement, maintain regular contact with residents and ensure that officers remain accessible to the people they serve
Some commentators also stressed the importance of public cooperation in policing, particularly in intelligence gathering, crime prevention and the management of situations that could escalate into conflict.
Others noted that the responsibility of the police extends beyond maintaining law and order to building trust and fostering constructive relationships with the communities they are mandated to protect.
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