“WHY NIGERIANS NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE POLICE” =CSSS

Recently, members of the Community Security Surveillance Services, CSSS gathered at the Sheu Musa Yar’Dua Centre in Abuja for the inauguration of their newly formed organization. Security Monitor’s Shola Akinyele who was at the event reports that CSSS which has a good link with Police Community Policing Committee drawn it members from all the thirty six states of the federation. The group is poised to carry out a volunteer surveillance task that could aid the job of security agencies at preventing crime and perpetrators of criminal acts. Tajudeen Akewushola is the Deputy Director General of the group. He spoke with SECURITY MONITOR at the event where he chronicles aims and objectives of the CSSS

TELL US WHAT TODAY’S PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT?

In summary the program is all about the awareness and flag off of the Community Security Surveillance Services, CSSS. The group is a watched dog to assist government security agencies to overcome the problem of insecurity in our various communities. Our task is to carry out surveillance on the community and provide information to the government agencies. We believe police and other security agencies are not magician and they need our supports tpo be able to properly secure us.

WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT TO BE A MEMBER OF CSSS?

We have a lot of requirement before somebody can become a member; firstly after collecting the form from CSSS there is a Colum which will be filled by the community leader or traditional ruler and CSSS the director that is in charge of the applicant’s local government area. From Local office it will be taken to the state and later transfer to the national office for verification before the approval of the appointment. Moreover the applicant must be of good character, devoid of criminal acts and must possess at least Secondary School Certificate.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF CSSS?

One of the objectives of CSSS is to support the security agencies to protect our community and fish out the criminals. There is urgent need for more relationship with communities’ leaders because of the current security threats facing the nation.

HOW WOULD YOUR MEMBERS PROCESS OR FORWARD THEIR INFORMATION TO THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY?

We have been educating our members and we will continue to organize lectures and training on how to handle any security information that leak to them and when they get the information they should report to the state director who will also forward such information to senior police hierarchy. Members are not permitted to send information to the police individually. They are not permitted to arrest or detain any suspect. They are to inform the police and not just any police a high ranking office such as the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Commissioner of Police or his deputies.

HOW DO YOU INTEND TO FUND THE ORGANISATION?

We hope that with the support of our people, communities’ leaders, traditional rulers and matrons and patrons of CSSS all will be fine and will also look forward that one day government will take over this group just as it did to Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps years back.