Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, on Monday convened a high-level security meeting at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City to officially inaugurate the Edo State Community Safety Partnership (EDSCSP). The initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration between the police, community stakeholders, and religious institutions in tackling crime and enhancing public safety across the state.
In his keynote address, CP Agbonika said the Partnership would serve as a platform for building trust, identifying security challenges, and working with citizens to design lasting solutions. He stressed that policing must go beyond enforcement to include consultation, communication, and cooperation with the communities being served.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police emphasised the role of data-driven approaches, noting that annual local safety audits mandated by the Partnership would help identify community-specific threats, especially those affecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and minorities.
Additionally, the Officer in Charge of Community Policing explained that the EDSCSP would enable the shared deployment of resources, the formation of specialised working groups, and the promotion of preventive measures against crime. He added that continuous dialogue with community representatives would reduce fear of crime and improve quality of life in Edo State.
Religious leaders welcomed the initiative, pledging support and highlighting the role of faith-based organisations in fostering tolerance, mediating conflicts, and assisting victims of violence. They, however, sought clarity on how findings from the annual audits would be communicated to the public and how transparency would be ensured in implementing action plans.
The meeting closed with a joint pledge of cooperation by all stakeholders. With trustees including the Edo State Governor, the Commissioner of Police, women’s groups, traditional institutions, and representatives from civil society, the EDSCSP is expected to release its first safety audit and strategic plan in the coming months, ushering in a new phase in Edo’s collective security framework.
