By Stephen Adeleye.
The administration of Governor Ahmed Ododo has taken a significant step towards empowering women and enhancing security in Adankolo community, Lokoja, Kogi State.
Through the Women Empowerment and Community Security Program, powered by Comrade Abdullahi David Amkpita, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Grassroots Mobilisation to the Governor, 150 women were empowered with clothing materials and cash donations of N5,000 each.
The program, which aimed to support women in the Adankolo community in the season of Ramadan, also featured a lecture on community policing.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Amkpita emphasized the importance of giving back to the women who have given so much to the party.
“This empowerment is for our mothers who have given so much to our party; so, at every opportunity we have, we should give back to them.
“It is not because I have gathered so much, I am barely four months in office, but I believe that I can give back to my people out of the little I have.
“That is why, we have decided to put smiles on the faces of our women in this Ramadan season. We are empowering about 150 women today, and we will continue to do more.
“The women beneficiaries were carefully selected by the party stakeholders in our community. The gesture is coming out of a giving heart,” he said.
Speaking the lecture on community policing, Amkpita said: “we take security issue very seriously because without security, we cannot record much progress
“This lecture will enlighten and enable the Vigilantes not to clash with police again.
“The partnership will strengthen the security architecture of our area, and to also enlighten our youth against social vices as the law will catch up with them if they misbehave.
“The Vigilantes will not be acting on their own but will collaborate with the police, and it will keep crime at bay in the society.
“We thank His Excellency, Gov. Ahmed Usman Ododo for the opportunity given to us to serve our people in this capacity, and as we are elevated, we will continue to do more,” Hon. Amkpita said.
The lecture on Community Policing, was delivered by DPO, D Division, CSP Ujah Francis, who represented the Area Commander Lokoja, ACP Sikiru Oladejo Suara.
The Area commander highlighted the need for cooperation between the community and the police to ensure peace and security, stressing that “Policing is everybody’s business”.
He noted that community policing was established in 2024, stressing the need for partnership in policing with mutual respect, and giving adequate and timely information.
“It is as a result of this community policing that the Vigilantes were set up to liaise with the police who are saddled with the responsibility of enforcing law and order.
“The Vigilantes are local police that makes the police work to be easier because they know the community better.
“You must know the attitude and character of the people within your immediate environment and neighborhood,” he said.
The commander, therefore urged the community to support the police by providing relevant information about criminals.
He advised the Vigilantes to support the police, saying the police could do little without them, and they could not effectively function without the police.
He added: “As Vigilantes, for every operation you do, you must inform your DPO, you must know your limitations and work within your jurisdiction”.
The program also featured remarks from the Ward A Vigilante Commander, Ahmed Jiya, who emphasized the importance of complementing the police work to ensure a secure and peaceful society.
“We are ensuring that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed. We are not competing or taking over the police duty, but we are complementing police work to ensure a secure a peaceful society.
“We live among the people in the community and we can easily recognize the criminals among us and bring them to justice,” Jiya said.
The beneficiaries, Deborah Aremu, and Hadiza Ahmed, commended Hon. Amkpita for the initiative, describing it as a “beacon of hope” for the Andankolo community.
Hadiza Ahmed, said, “I am very that this gesture is happening in our community because it is the first of its kind.
“We appreciate our Hon Amkpita for taking this initiative of empowering the women of Andankolo community.
“The lecture on security about community policing is an eye opener, and the Vigilantes are doing a very good job”.
150 women received clothing materials and cash donations of N5,000 each.
