From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
In a bid to promote a community-centered approach to fighting criminality and violence in the Nigeria Delta, Search for Common Ground at the weekend concluded a 3-day refresher capacity building program for government security forces.
The program, which took place at Doncont Homes and Apartments in Yenagoa, with the support of European Union brought together 35 security formations from various agencies to undergo training on human-centered security principles.
The training, which was structured into three days, covered foundation and ethical orientation, strategies and community relations, and advanced skills and practical applications.
Speaking on the importance of the training, a representative from the Search for Common Ground, Kengkeng Ati, emphasized the need for security forces to adopt a human-centered approach in their operations.
“We are here for a training, capacity building refresher to government security forces. The idea is for us to share alternative dispute resolutions with agencies, also to share ethical approach to do their job better.
“Also this training is designed to equip security forces with the skills and knowledge needed to engage with local communities effectively, build trust, and promote a more inclusive and effective approach to addressing criminality and violence in the Nigeria Delta,” the representative said.
Mr Phillip Kalio, the capacity building and training coordinator for the project tagged: “community centered approach to transforming criminality and violence in the Niger Delta” said, the program is all about enhancing the capacity of government security agencies.
Kalio said, “the training highlighted key areas such as unified command structures, real-time information sharing, and community engagement, to support them in containing and mitigating crime in the society, the training principles of human centered security, so that their operations does not violate the rights of the citizens where they work.
“The program is part of the organizations efforts to promote peace and stability in the Niger Delta. By equipping security forces with human-centered security principles, the organization aims to reduce violence and promote a more inclusive and effective approach to addressing criminality in the region.”
Participants were also provided with hands-on training and practical applications of human-centered security principles.
A participant the Bayelsa Police public relations officer, PPRO Musa Mohammed who appreciated the program facilitators noted that, the training has open his eyes on how not to violate the rights of the citizens.
“The program have opened my eyes to the things I didn’t know before. I’m more away now, now I know that the citizens have their own rights that should not be violated.
The training was attended by security chiefs from various agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police Force, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Immigration services, Nigerian corrections services, Department of state services, Federal Road safety Corp and National Drug Law enforcement Agency.
