By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
Achieving successes against enemies of the country requires robust collaboration between all the security agencies, Custom's Comptroller Bashir Hamisu, has said.
Bashir, who is the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of federal operations unit Zone B, stated this during a courtesy visit to the Sokoto State Police Command.
Giving reasons for his decision to embark on such a familiarization visit to security agencies within the 10 States of the zone, Comptroller Hamisu said the culture of synergy should be reinvigorated amongst the security agencies and relevant stakeholders especially those within the border communities to help towards taming smuggling and other trans-border crimes.
"No agency can work alone and achieve the desired success. Despite working under different names, the agenda is the same. Our mission and target as security agencies, both military and paramilitary, is to work for national cohesion and a peaceful country. And we can only achieve better successes working together"
"If we really want to achieve this, then there is the need to try to educate our people on how best to partner in taming security challenges rather than the seemingly unnecessary rivalry that hitherto existed amongst them".
While stating that this rivalry is mostly at the bottom levels, the Zone B Comptroller affirmed that "It has been nice at the top but not really so at the lower level. I am here to ask you for more collaboration. I was told of the good relationship that exists between you and my colleagues here in Sokoto, hence I feel the need to visit and appreciate you and also seek for more of such collaboration".
Responding, Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, (CP) Kamaladeen Okunlola, said things change rapidly, hence the need for good synergy unlike in those days when there are lots of unnecessary rivalry between security agencies.
The CP also urged officers to go on courses, as according to him, further learnings exposes officers to the changing world of best practices as far as security is concerned. "When I came, I met the synergy and I really appreciate that and sustained same as well. We have been working with each other as if we are from the same organization.
"Knowledge makes things simple for our security personnel. Any time, you need us do not hesitate. We will always be there for you. We are going to cooperate with you like always and achieve our purposes as an agency working for the same country".
He also appealed to media practitioners to always strive towards reporting good things about the security agencies in a manner that propagate their image in a better way. NNL.
