* Holds AGM/Symposium
By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Worried by security breaches notwithstanding efforts by security agencies to stem the trend, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Niger state chapter has held its Symposium/Annual General Meeting (AGM), where deliberations centered on evolving new strategies to guarantee security of lives and properties of citizens.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Women Event Centre, old state Secretariat Minna, Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada said insecurity has been ravaging Niger state, hence the need to evolve new strategies to meet the new dimensions of crime including managing security informations to restore peace in the affected communities.
At the event with the theme: 'Communication Strategies in Managing Security Information in Niger State, speakers were of the opinions that with the new dimensions crime and criminalities were assuming, security agencies should equally come up with new tactics to make crime less attractive to perpetrators.
Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman who is the lead speaker, acknowledged the fact that it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Police to secure lives and properties of citizens, but expressed sadness that all efforts seemed not enough for the dimensions security threats is assuming.
The Police Commissioner represented by the Command's Head of Legal department, CPS Jude Akaeze said the police is always short of information during crises situations, and therefore call for more collaborations with communities in addressing security challenges.
Elleman said he strongly believe in citizen's participation by way of providing adequate and realistic information that will help security agencies in curbing crime and criminalities as he assured of utmost confidentiality of informants.
"The police or entire security agencies cannot do it alone, securing lives and properties of citizens without contributions from other stakeholders".
Also speaking, Niger state Commissioner for Homeland Security, Gen. Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd) said security is very crucial and therefore emphasized the need to build confidence as a key role to strategic communication.
On his part, the Head of Department Mass Communication's department, IBB University Lapai, Dr. Ternenge Samuel Ende argued that for effective policing and clamping down on criminals, there's the urgent need to stop hiding or hoarding information in regards to crime and its attendant consequences.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper Ccorrespondent reports that the state NIPR presented posthumous Awards to some distinguished Nigerlites, including the late former Minister, Abubakar Tanko Achituwo, late Matthew Daniel and late Mohammed Ali. NNL.
