Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Department, Zachariah Achinyan, has urged residents of Borno State to support security agencies with credible intelligence, assuring full protection of the informants.
He made the appeal on Monday during an operational and community engagement visit to Maiduguri alongside the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Research and Planning, Zango Baba.
According to him, community intelligence remains critical to modern policing and effective crime prevention, stressing that the police cannot succeed without the cooperation of the people.
“Without you, we cannot get information, and we need information to operate. If you did not say something, the police will not have the necessary guidance to police this environment. This is why we are advocating that you activate community informants in Borno State,” he said.
The DIG emphasized that criminals live within communities and not in police barracks, urging residents to report suspicious activities promptly.
“The way of collaborating with us is very simple; the criminal, do they live with the police? They don’t; rather, they live in your midst. Therefore, if you see something, say something.”
He reassured residents that any information provided would be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
“The information you give us, we will use it in a confidential manner, and in such a way that nothing will be traced to you.
“I can assure you that if you give police valuable information, you are not only helping yourselves, but your entire community.”
He further conveyed the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to strengthening partnerships with communities and stakeholders to improve public trust, intelligence gathering, and sustainable peace and security across the country.
During a separate engagement with officers and men of the Borno State Police Command, the visiting DIGs commended personnel for their resilience and sacrifices in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East.
They urged officers to remain disciplined, professional and proactive in tackling emerging security challenges through enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration with communities.
The visit was attended by senior police officers, including the Commandant of Police College Maiduguri, AIG Usman Mu’azu Mohammed; AIG Zone 15, Dahiru Mohammed; the Commissioner of Police, Naziru Abdulmajid; as well as representatives of the Police Community Relations Committee, Police Officers’ Wives Association, traditional rulers and religious leaders.
