Security is collective responsibility of all Nigerians – Etsu Nupe
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in Niger, says security is the collective responsibility of all law abiding Nigerians.
The Etsu Nupe said this in his Wadata palace in Bida while receiving the new Commissioner of Police to the state, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi-Elleman, during a courtesy visit.
According to him, the task of providing security of lives and property of Nigerians should not be left to security agencies and government alone.
”All the citizens, including myself, owe it a duty to assist the various security agencies in ensuring that they function effectively and diligently.
”This is with the view to ensuring that Nigerians go to their beds with their two eyes closed,” said the first class traditional ruler.
The Etsu Nupe promised the sustained support of the state’s traditional institution to the police and other sister security agencies.
Abubakar noted that security agencies needed the sustained support and goodwill of Nigerians to carry out the onerous task of protecting lives and property of citizens.
The royal father extolled the efforts of the state police command for “doing so much, with so little“.
The Etsu Nupe underscored the urgent need for stakeholders to unite, pool resources and re-strategise on how best to confront the challenges of growing threats of banditry, kidnapping and other security concerns in the society.
The royal father noted that security is a shared responsibility that demands the active involvement of traditional institutions and the citizenry alike.
“Due to the increasing security issues faced, there is a need to look inward and come together, contribute resources and re-strategise on how to tackle security challenges facing the State,” the traditional ruler emphasised.
Abubakar further assured the Commissioner of Police of the emirate’s full support and cooperation, particularly in areas of intelligence gathering, information sharing, and vigilant observation, to help prevent unforeseen incidents.
He lauded security agencies for doing their best in the face of acute paucity of manpower, logistics and equipment.
“There are lots of challenges and shortcomings. However, Almighty Allah that put you there will continue to give you the wisdom to police the state.
“We on our own part will continue to support you, pray for you and give you the contributions needed to actually pilot the affairs of fighting crime and criminality,
“I am assuring you that this level of support would be sustained, as without peace and security the nation cannot develop,” he said.
Earlier, Abdullahi-Elleman urged the people of the state to continue giving useful information to the police to sustain the fight against crimes and criminality.
He appealed to the Emir for prayers, both for himself and the state, in light of the ongoing security challenges, while assuring the emirate and the larger state of his unwavering commitment to service.
Abdullahi-Elleman
commended the Etsu Nupe for the relative peace being enjoyed in his domain, saying, “the emirate is the most peaceful in the state”.
The commissioner assiref that the police would not undermine the role of traditional institutions in complementing the effort of security operatives.(NAN)