Stresses the need for Community Policing strategy
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Assistant Inspector General(AIG) of the Nigerian Police force Zone 2, Mohammed Ali Ari has stressed the need for Community policing within the Zone as it will strengthen the relationship between Community members and Police Force.
Speaking at Nigeria Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF) Headquarters, in Lagos on Tuesday 10 October 2023, AIG Mohammed Ari Ali said Community policing will not only strengthen relationship between the Community members and Police Force but will also enhance laudable ideas in solving existing problems between community members and the Police Force.
AIG Mohammed who was on an official visit to the headquarters in Lagos pledged to correct all anomalies of Police Officers at Zone 2 and promised to sustain and retain existing relationship between the force and freight forwarders.
While fieldiing questions from freight forwaders on the undesirable relationship that exists between the forwarders and police officers along the city roads under his watch in the course of delivering cargo to the owners warehouses immediately out of the customs ports and borders, he confirmed that all anomalies will be corrected in due course and encouraged the Forwarders to always bring to his notice any undue activities encountered with the police.
Feeling good with the presence of the AIG, the NAGAFF founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, referred AIG visit as a refreshing reunion between the AIG especially when he was the divisional police officer and Area Commander of Area B police Command Apapa and members of NAGAFF family.
Going down memory lane, Dr Aniebonam, recalled how AIG Hassan Bala who has been there through thick and thin for the association since its inception, handed NAGAFF and its members to Area B Police Command headed then by Mohammed Ari Ali as the divisional police officer Area B, to protect them at all cost..
He said, "The then Area Commander and now retired Asst Inspector General of Police in the person of Barr. Hassan Bala was a pride of the Nigeria police for upholding the constitution of the Federal Republlic of Nigeria. We recall the resistance and pressure on him to stop the inauguration of NAGAFF but he let ANLCA to understand that he has a duty to uphold the constitution of Nigeria. Knowing fully well that Customs clearing agents of the old and before the emergence of NAGAFF are experts in duty evasion and bribing of agents of the government in the ports and borders. When interrogated, I narrated my ordeal to him regarding the petition written against the inauguration of NAGAFF by some set of people, the AIG thus stood by me through thick and thin and when there was movement order in the force, he handed us over to Mohammed Ari Ali to continue to protect us. He ensured he kept eyes on us always and i really Appreciate him for that," he narated.
Also speaking, National President of NAGAFF, Chief Tochukwu Ezisi, appreciated the presence of the AIG and expressed satisfaction on the unalloyed support of the Nigeria Police Force in the everyday business operations of NAGAFF nationwide.
The president who was represented by the Deputy National President NAGAFF Headquarters, Simeon Nwonu, said the AIG's visit has set a new record in the harmonious relationship between NPF and NAGAFF as a whole.
Also speaking, National Coordinator, 100 percent Compliance Team, Alhaji Tanko, appreciated the AIG for answering the call of the Founder and pleaded for continuous support of the freight forwarders at all cost by the force.
On his part, Chief Remi Ogungbemi, National President Association of Maritime Truck Owners(AMATO), who is in his fifth decade in truck operations also expressed gratitude for the presence of AIG Mohammed at NAGAFF headquarters and brought the nefarious activities of some touts on truck operators to the AIG's attention.
Chief Ogungbemi referred the problems faced by truck operators as cankerworm disease that has eaten deep into the system.
He said the dubious acts of these street boys has become so appauling as it has extended to bullying and killing of some truck drivers.
He thus solicited for the support of the AIG in mitigating the nefarious activities of the touts fondly called Area Boys who have constituted in illtreating truck operators within the AIG's jurisdiction.
In response, AIG Mohammed promised to ensure that all the illicit act of the area boys comes to an end in due course and also urges all the forwarders to endeavor to always report any case of hinderanc henceforth.
