The Police Command in Nasarawa State on Friday said it is partnering with local hunters and vigilance groups to strengthen patrol of `difficult terrains’ in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Kura, said this in Lafia while addressing newsmen on the activities of the command in the last three weeks since his assumption of office.
Mr Kura said the partnership was necessitated by the alarming rate of kidnapping in Akwanga and Nasarawa local government areas and some other parts of the state.
He said the collaboration had started yielding results as two victims recently rescued from kidnappers in the state, including a female youth corps member, were the fruits of such collaboration.
“Whenever we receive a report of kidnapping in any area, we link up with them and beef up security in the area the crime happened to make the bush very hot for the kidnappers.
“Though I am just three weeks old in the state, I discovered that there are some areas that are not easy for vehicles to enter.
“So, we devised means of policing the areas by partnering with the traditional rulers, local hunters and vigilance groups from the areas.
“They are mostly from those communities; so partnering with them would further ease our job toward ensuring adequate security of lives and property in the state,” the commissioner said.
He, however, listed the challenges the command was facing to include inadequate work force and insufficient patrol vehicles.
He said that in spite the challenges, the command remained resolute to ensure that lives and property were safe for the residents and investors.
Mr Kura commended the State Government for supporting the police with accommodation and vehicles, and called for the sustenance of such assistance.
He appealed to the public to always volunteer relevant information about criminals and their activities to enable the police to curtail crime in the state.
NAN
