In a bold move to enhance public safety, the Edo State Police Command has initiated a Community Safety Partnership aimed at deepening collaboration with religious and community leaders to address rising security concerns.
Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, unveiled the initiative during a strategic meeting in Benin City, where Christian and Muslim leaders joined senior officers to discuss the upcoming launch. The partnership is designed to support informal policing efforts and foster grassroots solutions to crime.
Agbonika emphasized that while surveillance technologies like drones are being deployed, they are no substitute for human cooperation. “Without your support, our gadgets are just tools. Real security comes from working together,” he told attendees.
The platform will convene monthly to identify threats, form action committees, and build trust between law enforcement and the public.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Innocent Nkeamatara, highlighted the critical role of faith-based organizations in guiding youth away from crime. He urged religious leaders to create engaging programs during school holidays to deter cultism and other harmful activities.
“Cultism destroys lives and communities. We must offer our youth better alternatives,” Nkeamatara said, while also encouraging communities to share intelligence with local police divisions and support law enforcement with resources.
Participants voiced concerns about cult-related violence in Auchi and kidnappings in Agenebode, urging improved intelligence coverage across the state.
Pastor Godwin Ejiofor of Living Faith Church advocated for the inclusion of traditional rulers in the security framework and stressed the importance of protecting informants.
Mallam Elias Iyegbekedo, Chief Imam of Uroho, cautioned against ethnic profiling, noting that such biases could hinder the pursuit of justice. He cited cases where perpetrators were from the same ethnic group as their victims, underscoring the need for impartial investigations.
The initiative marks a significant step toward building safer communities through unity, transparency, and shared responsibility.
