By Peace Udugba -The Daily Torch Media
The Nigeria Police Force has continued to promote community-oriented policing and non-kinetic strategies as part of efforts to prevent crime and build safer communities, with education and youth engagement playing a key role in the approach.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, has continued to support initiatives such as the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), which engage communities and young people in promoting safer societies.
The importance of this approach was recently demonstrated in Ogun State following the intervention of a police officer who discovered a young boy with considerable artistic and photographic talent but who was out of school.
The officer said the encounter with Bolaji Ridwan Bolaji Olamilekan occurred during a PCRC Ogun State event at Olumo Rock, where he noticed the boy’s artistic ability and skill with a camera.
After making enquiries and discovering that Bolaji was not attending school, the officer decided to take responsibility for his education rather than simply walk away.
With the support of the PCRC Ogun State, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, as well as family members and friends, the decision has now resulted in Bolaji returning to school.
The officer recently accompanied Bolaji to Akinpola Model School to resume his education.
He said he deliberately visited the school as an ordinary parent and was impressed by the professionalism of the principal, teachers and non-teaching staff.
According to him, the standard at the school was remarkable and comparable to what could be expected in a well-managed private school.
He also commended the Ogun State Government for its commitment to improving public education.
He expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON; the Ogun State Ministry of Education; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Idowu Daniel Oluwagbemileke; and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Mariam Oluwatosin Oloko, for their efforts toward raising standards in public schools.
The initiative, he said, demonstrates the practical meaning of non-kinetic policing, where crime prevention goes beyond conventional enforcement to include education, mentorship, community engagement and creating opportunities for young people.
“For me, this is the essence of non-kinetic policing: preventing tomorrow’s crime can begin with giving a child a reason to choose a different path today,” he said.
He added: “See potential. Give hope. Prevent crime. Protect the future.”
The Ogun State public was also encouraged to support community security efforts by downloading Gateway Shield from the App Store or Google Play Store, calling 08000009111, or accessing the platform through www.thegatewayshield.com.
Security, the officer stressed, remains a shared responsibility.
