By Leo Zwanke, Lafia
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Zone 4 Command, on Tuesday organized a capacity-building training for its members in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, to strengthen grassroots security and enhance police-community collaboration.The training, held at Lafia City Hall, Shandam Road, brought together community leaders, security stakeholders, and representatives of the Nigeria Police Command.Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jairo Mohammed, commended the PCRC for supporting the police in crime prevention. He stressed that effective community policing depends on trust, information sharing, and mutual understanding between the police and the public.
Mohammed noted that such workshops were vital in educating PCRC members on their responsibilities, particularly in intelligence gathering and community sensitization. He urged members to see themselves as partners in the collective effort to maintain peace and security across the state.
The Zonal Chairman of Zone 4 Command, Emmanuel Ombugadu Michael, explained that the training was designed to improve the knowledge and skills of PCRC members. He emphasized that the committee plays a key role in bridging the gap between security agencies and the public. “Community policing cannot succeed without the active participation of the people,” Michael said, urging participants to take the training seriously and apply the lessons in their communities.
Representing the National Chairman of PCRC, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, the Zonal Vice Chairman South-South and National Chairman of Capacity Building Committee, Deacon Kenneth Otunuyo, reiterated the national leadership’s commitment to continuous training and retraining of members.
Otunuyo explained that given the country’s evolving security challenges, members must be exposed to new approaches in problem-solving. He expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would enhance security consciousness and build stronger police-community relationships.
ne of the participants, Stephen Sampson, praised the initiative, describing the training as timely and impactful. He said it would help bridge communication gaps between the police and local communities and equip PCRC members to better support peace and security efforts.The workshop featured lectures, interactive sessions, and practical exercises covering conflict resolution, intelligence gathering, and community engagement strategies.
At the close of the program, participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the police in promoting peace and tackling insecurity across Zone 4 and beyond.
