The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Oyo State Command has on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the management of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking partnership in establishing a PCRC Campus that will pose a threat to activities of criminals in the great citadel of learning.
The courtesy visit to the Polytechnic of Ibadan was led by the PCRC, Chairman, Oyo State Command Reverend Peter Omofoye and other notable members of the PCRC in the state was aimed at discussing ways of reducing insecurity challenges on campus and extending Community Policing which will be tagged “PCRC Campus” to improve the security network of the institution..
The Chairman, PCRC Oyo State Command, Rev. Peter Omofoye while speaking with CEOAFRICA correspondent said “We thank the management of the Polytechnic of Ibadan for receiving us to discuss on how we can partner to better the security network of the institution and Oyo State in general. We have come to introduced to the management PCRC in the institution tagged ‘PCRC Campus’ and I thank God that it was well accepted by the Rector and the management team of the Polytechnic ”.
“The usefulness of the PCRC in the Polytechnic cannot be over emphasized. Its number one goal is to improve the security network of the institution, it will create fear into the mind of students and the citizenry in the Polytechnic environment, it will also caution students against indiscipline, cultism, criminality and other forms of immorality in our environment”
Speaking further on the challenges being faced by the PCRC, Oyo State Command, Rev. Omofoye said “We have challenges of funding and mobility. In Ogun State, the government was able to procure four Vehicles for PCRC, Ogun State Command , the state government is funding them and lots of incentives were being given to them. This is also what am preaching in Oyo State . There is an ongoing project in our command like the PCRC Secretariat Oyo State Command that needs funding, procurement of PCRC Vehicles at all division of the PCRC in the state and we want to spread our tentacles to every corner in Oyo State so as to enhance adequate security most especially with the present government”.
Omofoye however appealed to the management team of the Polytechnic, Ibadan to assist the PCRC, Oyo State Command in their best capability to improve the security of the students and the entire citizens of Oyo State.
In his statement, the Rector of the Polytechnic Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi said “We are very happy to receive the PCRC, Oyo State Command. When I see people like this, it gives me a kind of impression that Nigeria will be better. When you have people that are ready to make sacrifice for humanity and not for their own personal or selfish interest, then there would be progress in the land. What you are doing is more of sacrifice and service to humanity and its only God that can reward all your efforts”.
“There is no doubt, the police cannot do the security alone for us. It must be a kind of joint efforts. We believed it is for the interests of us all even the police also need us to enhance their own performance while we need them for God’s protection through them. I believed that we all need to work together and there is no better time to have this relationship together than now because we are faced with a lot of security challenges. We thank God that we have been receiving the supports of all the security agencies here like the DSS, Police, NSCDC and they have been doing wonderfully well for us. We are ready to go into the collaboration and see how we can really work together which means togetherness we can make a difference” the Rector said.
Professor Adebiyi further stated while commending the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP. Shina Olukolu for his efforts in securing the lives and properties of the good people of Oyo State,“the management of the Polytechnic of Ibadan appreciates the efforts of the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Police Command, CP. Shina T. Olukolu for his selfless service and setting the security priorities in the society and fashioning ways of resolving identified problems in the State. There has been no time we call through that he has not been responding to us. We appreciate all his efforts and supports over time and we prayed to enjoy this continued peaceful and harmonious relationship”.
The rector however said “We thank the PCRC, Oyo State Command led by its Chairman, Rev. Peter Omofoye for your visit and appreciates your unprecedented achievements and services towards Community Development in the State. By the time we have the PCRC of our own, that would give us the opportunity for more interaction and collaboration”.
In his remark, the Polytechnic Public Relations Officer said “We appreciate the PCRC for coming to the Polytechnic and of course shedding more light on your activities and I believed we will have a good working relationship with the PCRC for the safety of our environment as promised by the Rector”.
The courtesy visit had in attendance the Rector of the Polytechnic of Ibadan, Professor Kazeem Adekunle Adebiyi; Deputy Rector, Mr Omotomilola Olatunji; the Registrar, Mrs. Modupe Theresa Fawole; the Chairman PCRC, Oyo State Chapter, Reverend Peter Omofoye; Mr. Owoeye Taiwo, PCRC Vice Chairman, Idi-Ayunre; Dr. Olawuyi, Chairman, Apete Divisional PCRC , Divisional Chairmen and Chairpersons among others.
It could be recalled that the Police Community Relations Committee PCRC was inaugurated on the 8th of May, 1984 by Late IGP Etim Iyanag to partner with community members in setting the security priorities in the society and fashioning ways of resolving identified problems in the community; to bring the police and the community together; to solicit for public information through the communities in order to control crime and to serve as a forum for the police to educate the public on new trends of crime and prevention technique among other objectives for its creation.
