The commandant of the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Umar Mohammed, has said that the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, cultism, cybercrime and other security challenges can no longer be tackled by conventional security agencies alone.
He therefore advocated stronger collaboration between conventional security agencies and private guard companies to combat insecurity in the state.
He made the call on Thursday at a security summit organised by the Kwara State Command of NSCDC in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria, ALPSPN, at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin.
Speaking at the summit, themed, “The Role of Private Security Guards in Crime Prevention and Intelligence Gathering,” he said: “Private guard companies are often the first point of contact in our communities. When properly regulated and integrated, they can provide vital intelligence and support conventional security agencies in safeguarding lives and property.”
In his goodwill message, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Security, Mallam Muyeeden Aliyu, commended security agencies for their sustained efforts in ensuring peace across the state. He assured that the state government would continue to provide an enabling environment and support security operations.
The chairman of the Kwara State chapter of ALPSPN, Samuel Yusuf Bola, also appealed for greater recognition and partnership with private security companies, stressing that they understand the local terrain and can play a stronger role in intelligence gathering.
Delivering a keynote paper titled “The Role of Private Guard Companies in Crime Prevention and Intelligence Gathering,” former Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi (retd), echoed the call for closer collaboration among security stakeholders, noting that unity of purpose is key to achieving a crime-free society.
The summit brought together top security stakeholders, policymakers, and private guard operators to chart new strategies for tackling insecurity through intelligence sharing and operational synergy.
