A statement from the Force said the campaign will feature a massive distribution of information, education and communication (IEC) materials in various languages throughout Nigeria, and will continue until every citizen is well informed of their responsibilities in the age of terrorism.
“The public enlightenment materials, which are factsheets containing distress call numbers of the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and that of the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), are carefully designed by the Police to educate the general public on their basic roles in the fight against terrorism and how to identify terrorists’ subterfuge and other known modus operandi of criminals,” the statement said. “This is expected to help in protecting citizens from falling victim to crime, thereby improving overall sense of communal safety.”
In the campaign, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. MD Abubakar, is urging Nigerians to partner with the Force and support it, the statement said, asking them to pay rapt attention to the security and safety tips contained in the counter-terrorism leaflets being circulated by the Force.
“Reiterating the commitment of the Police and other security agencies to winning the war against terror, the IGP enjoins the general public to insist on frustrating every step of the terrorist by remaining vigilant all the time,” the statement said, adding that he thanked Nigerians for their patience and resilience in the present circumstance.
An analyst who saw some of the leaflets dismissed them as being “grossly inadequate,” and suggested that it is only a minute part of what the Force needs to do.
“They should go into communities and schools and work on developing the rapport that has been damaged; holding workshops and sensitivity trainings,” he said, warning that the police must understand that most communities do not trust them, and that leaflets will not change that.
“Let them accept the challenge of developing relationships with communities and their leaders,”he told SaharaReporters, “because a leaflet does not reassure a citizen the police will answer and not betray him when he uses his phone to call for help or report a neighbor.
“Let the IGP, the AIGs, the commissioners and other top police personnel show up at some of these events and demonstrate their commitment to the security to the people. Just printing bulletins for distribution by the same people who are either distrusted or disrespected is simply the squandering of millions of Naira by the police printer or some lucky contractor.”
Another public policy analyst told SaharaReporters, “If the IGP wants the vigilance and support of the public, he must step into the streets and earn it by rebuilding the bridge to various communities one citizen at a time. Otherwise he can keep his leaflets and we will be no less at risk.”
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