The Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, has urged local government chairmen in the state to play a more active role in tackling insecurity and strengthening security at the grassroots.
Shaffa made the call during a Nationwide Local Governments Security Workshop held at the main auditorium of the Nigeria Police Force in Sokoto.
The workshop was organized by the Nigeria Police Force in partnership with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Justice Mission International.
The commissioner urged the council chairmen to apply the knowledge and recommendations from the workshop in their respective local government areas rather than allowing them to remain on paper.
“Whatever comes out of this important meeting, we should be able to harness it and put it to use. Let us put it to use so that it will benefit us,” he said.
Shaffa also advised the chairmen to establish closer working relationships with the police command and promptly communicate security concerns arising within their communities.
“I call on the local government chairmen in the state to always relate with the command, especially on issues that affect the security of their respective local governments,” the CP said.
He urged the council authorities to monitor the activities of vigilante groups operating in their areas, stressing that their operations should be properly coordinated and supervised.
The commissioner further called for increased vigilance over strangers entering communities, urging residents and local authorities to promptly report suspicious movements to security agencies.
According to Shaffa, isolated communities and settlements with large concentrations of livestock could be vulnerable to attacks by bandits and other criminal elements.
He therefore called for stronger community-based intelligence gathering, saying early information remained critical to preventing attacks and protecting lives and property.
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The CP also stressed the importance of security collaboration ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying the police would work to ensure that every part of the state was adequately secured.
“We want situations where the elections will be peaceful all over the state. We don’t want to leave out any part of the state,” he said.
Shaffa maintained that the police could not effectively confront insecurity without the cooperation of local authorities and communities.
“The police are not going to do it alone,” he said, urging local government chairmen to work with traditional rulers, community leaders, vigilantes, and youths in identifying and addressing security threats.
Earlier, the ALGON Chairman in Sokoto State and Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area, Hon. Abba Shehu, called for stronger collaboration between local governments and security agencies.
Shehu said local government authorities were strategically positioned to support security efforts because of their close contact with residents and grassroots communities.
He commended the organizers of the workshop and urged participants to translate the discussions into practical measures capable of improving security across Sokoto State.
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