Police, Unilorin collaborate to strengthen security

The University of Ilorin (Unilorin)

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Mr. Olusola Amore, has called for a pragmatic synergy between the Police and the University of Ilorin to check crime and forestall breakdown of law and order in the community.

Amore made the call during a visit to the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali, on Wednesday in Ilorin.

He said an effective partnership on policing would serve as an effective antidote to insecurity in the land.

Accompanied by the top brass of the state’s Police Command, the commissioner observed that his visit to the university “was long overdue”.

He explained that the task of providing security was a collective responsibility, which cannot be left to the Police alone.

“There is no community without the police and there can never be a police without a community because the police is existing for the sake and because of a community.

“The job of the police is to protect life and property of members of the community, and to do this, there is a need for synergy, there is a need for collaboration,” he said.

According to the commissioner, policing has gone beyond force.

“Policing is now a service and when you render a service, you close up with the people that you are rendering service to,’’ said Amore.

He explained that there was the need for dialogue to appreciate people’s feelings and their problems before it becomes a pent-up emotion that could eventually burst.

Amore said if we discuss problems when they are still at the embryonic stage before they develop into a full grown monster, we will be able to solve it.

“Even if we fight a war, we are going to sit down and discuss, and that is why I said dialogue and discussion do a lot of relief,’’ the commissioner stressed.

He also restated his commitment towards engendering the culture of accountability in police conduct, pointing out that people will find his phone number on the wall of all police stations.

Amore noted that the police force has been enjoying a lot of cooperation with UniLorin, pledging to cooperate and work with the university to nip in the bud any problem that can get out of hand.

Responding, the vice-chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Sidikat Ijaiya, commended the Police boss for bringing his wealth of experience to bear in his service to the country and the state.

“I think in Kwara State, we are very lucky to have you; I can promise you that the University, as usual, will continue to partner with you.

“These days, a lot of problems come from the Students Union but our own students have taken unionism to a greater height and as you rightly observe, we dialogue a lot.”

“So, if people want to know why is it that the University of Ilorin has not gone on strike for 16 consecutive years, it is because we use dialogue a lot with the staff unions, with the Students Union,” he said.

While advocating education as the panacea to crime, Ambali said that the university has adopted measures such as dress code, as well as the distribution of handbook containing rules and regulations of the institution to the students at the point of entry.

He added that this would check other anti-social activities while pointing out that cultism is being driven underground with the support of the Police.