GUSAU — The Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, CP A.M. Bello, on Wednesday paid an operational visit to Bela and Gada communities in Bungudu Local Government Area as part of efforts to deepen community policing and address security challenges in the state.
The visit brought together traditional rulers, district heads, and other critical stakeholders for discussions on the prevailing security situation and ways to strengthen collaboration between the police and local communities.CP Bello was received by the Emir of Bungudu, Sarkin Fulanin Bungudu, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru. Also present were Alhaji Yakuba Almajiri, Gamjin Bela, the District Heads of Bela and Gada, and other respected community leaders.
The meeting focused on three key areas: the current security situation in Bungudu LGA, measures to improve police-community relations, and strategies to tackle banditry and other crimes through intelligence sharing and collective responsibility.
Speaking during the engagement, CP Bello commended the Emir, traditional institutions, and community stakeholders for their continued support to security agencies.
“Sustainable peace can only be achieved through unity, vigilance, and active community participation,” the Commissioner said. “Security is not the job of the police alone. We need everyone to be our eyes and ears on the ground.”
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and to promptly report suspicious movements, gatherings, or activities to the police and other security agencies. He also assured the communities that the command would respond swiftly to actionable intelligence.
In his remarks, the Emir of Bungudu appreciated the Commissioner for the visit and for the police command’s commitment to restoring peace in the area.
He assured CP Bello of the continued cooperation of the traditional institution and the people of Bungudu, noting that lasting security depends on trust between the people and security agencies.
Other community leaders at the meeting echoed similar sentiments, calling for more joint patrols, faster response times, and regular engagement between police divisions and local vigilante groups.
The Zamfara State Police Command said the visit aligns with the Inspector-General of Police’s directive to strengthen partnerships with communities as a foundation for public safety.
According to the command, community policing remains central to its strategy for tackling insecurity in Zamfara, where banditry, kidnapping and rural attacks have persisted in recent years.
“The command remains committed to working with traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups and other stakeholders to ensure lasting peace and the protection of lives and property across the state,” a statement from the command said.
Security experts have consistently noted that intelligence from local communities is critical in tracking criminal networks, especially in rural and border areas where access is difficult for conventional security forces.
Zamfara has been one of the states most affected by banditry in the North-West. In response, both federal and state authorities have increased military operations, while state and local governments have invested in community security structures and dialogue with traditional institutions.
Wednesday’s engagement in Bela and Gada reflects that dual approach: combining kinetic operations with community trust-building.
CP Bello said the command would sustain such visits across the 14 local government areas, with the goal of creating a feedback loop where residents feel safe to share information without fear of reprisal
The meeting ended with a commitment from both the police and community leaders to hold regular security town halls and to establish faster communication channels between villages and divisional police offices