Th e administrator of Kaura local government area of Kaduna state, Mr. Zitung Basahuwa Agog, has revealed plans that members of the Community Security Dialogue (CSAD) to trained people as community police volunteers to complement police roles of securing lives and property through constructive community dialogue surveillance and reporting. Agog stated this during the farewell and handing over ceremony of the organisation to the local government, organioed by an NGO, Search for Common Ground, which took place at the local government chamber. He directed the divisional police offi cer of Kaura local government to map out a comprehensive training for the CSAD members on eff ective community policing.
Th e administrator thanked the NGO for their initiative, and maintained that it had contributed immensely in restoring peace in the area, noting with concern that theorganisation was moving its activity to the local government. He expressed optimism that peace and harmonious coexistence had come to stay in the area and charge the CSAD members to be true ambassadors, while calling on traditional rulers and security agents to cooperate. Also speaking, the DPO Kaura local government, Mr. Linus Isangha, said he was impressed with the confi dence-building activities of Search for Common Ground, which he described as partly responsible for the understanding and harmonious relationship existing in the local communities.
He assured the CSAD of the police’s cooperation and encouraged them to be courageous and diligent in their search for peace, and to assist the police through surveillance by reporting suspected signs of security breach. Earlier, Search for Common Ground representative, and Early Warning System Programme Offi cer, Mr. Kyendi Daniel Dele, said the organisation had trained the CSAD members on early warning system and confl ict mitigation strategies. He said this had brought eff ective communication and collaboration among community leaders, security actors and local government offi cials, adding that with the training, the CSAD members could foresee possible security risk and apply the appropriate response mechanism to mitigate the situation before it will lead to confl ict.
