Delta Police, ALGON Strengthen Collaboration on Rural Security, Community Policing

By Chukwunonso Eric, Warri.

The Delta State Police Command has called for stronger collaboration with local government authorities across the state as part of renewed efforts to enhance rural policing, strengthen intelligence gathering, and address rising security challenges at the grassroots level.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, psc, acipm, mnips, made the appeal on Thursday during a strategic engagement with the Delta State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), held under the theme “Rural Policing: The Role of Local Administrators.”

The meeting brought together the 25 local government chairmen in the state, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole, SAN, the Director-General on Security Matters, Hon. David Tonwe, and other senior government officials. The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, also briefly attended the session, reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening security collaboration and development.

In his address, CP Oyeniyi noted that while the security situation in Delta State remains relatively stable, rural and riverine communities continue to experience incidents of kidnapping, cult-related violence, communal clashes, murder, and land disputes. He attributed these challenges to difficult terrain, weak intelligence networks, youth unemployment, and limited stakeholder coordination.

The police chief further identified drug abuse, cultism, and internet fraud as key drivers of violent crime in the state, stressing the need for a coordinated and community-driven response to tackle insecurity from its roots.

He emphasized that although the police have intensified intelligence-led operations, patrols, and tactical deployments, sustainable security cannot be achieved without active participation from local government councils, which he described as the closest tier of government to the people.

According to him, councils play a critical role in identifying emerging threats, supporting intelligence gathering, mobilizing community participation, and strengthening preventive security structures. He therefore advocated regular security meetings involving divisional police officers, traditional rulers, youth and religious leaders, as well as proper regulation of vigilante groups and increased youth empowerment initiatives.

The interactive session also provided an opportunity for the 25 local government chairmen to share security concerns specific to their areas and highlight measures being implemented to address them. The chairmen expressed support for enhanced collaboration with security agencies and emphasized the importance of improved intelligence sharing and community participation in crime prevention.

They unanimously commended the Commissioner of Police for initiating the engagement, describing it as a timely platform for dialogue and partnership on grassroots security. The chairmen reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the police and other stakeholders to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development across Delta State.

In his closing remarks, CP Oyeniyi directed relevant police departments to sustain collaboration with local government councils and ensure continuous engagement across all 25 LGAs. He also disclosed that tactical units have been strategically deployed across the state to strengthen visibility policing and improve response to security threats.

The Commissioner further called for improved security around schools, religious centres, and other critical public facilities, urging council chairmen to maintain constant communication with security agencies and ensure emergency contact lines remain active for rapid response.

The meeting ended with a renewed pledge by all stakeholders to deepen cooperation in the collective effort to enhance safety and security across Delta State.