By Rita Okoye
In a concerted effort to bolster grassroots intelligence and community policing, the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Department (FID) has partnered with the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI) to commence a three-day training programme on community intelligence gathering.
The training, themed “Community Intelligence Gathering Training,” is being implemented under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. It is designed to equip both police personnel and civilian participants with essential skills to collect, analyse, and disseminate actionable intelligence to aid in crime prevention and law enforcement.
The initiative aims to strengthen the collaborative framework between law enforcement agencies and community-based organisations, fostering trust, improving response time, and enhancing public safety across Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Samuel Eniola Adam, President and Founder of ECAPI, commended the IGP for his proactive approach to public safety and his endorsement of ECAPI’s role in intelligence gathering. He stressed the need for grassroots participation in national security, emphasising that citizens often have firsthand knowledge of suspicious activities within their communities.
“It’s cheaper and more effective to prevent crime than to fight it. Community members are best positioned to identify criminal elements living among them. Our job at ECAPI is to sensitise the public and relay critical information to law enforcement for appropriate action,” Adam noted.
Adam, who is also a Chief Superintendent in the Special Police Unit (SPY), explained that the training seeks to harness the expertise of the FID to develop Special Private Detectives(SPD). These individuals will work alongside law enforcement agencies, leveraging community insight to tackle rising insecurity across the country.
With over 200,000 registered members spread across Nigeria’s 36 states, ECAPI acts as a grassroots intelligence network. The organisation focuses on public awareness campaigns against crime and vice, while serving as a strategic partner to the police by providing timely intelligence from local communities.
Reagan Onuoha, the National Training Coordinator for the Police/ECAPI initiative, described the programme as a critical step towards empowering citizens and aligning civil society with law enforcement objectives:”This training is more than just capacity-building; it’s a transformational response to the growing demand for community-led security solutions,” he said.
High Chief Stanley Obodoagwu, Chairman of the occasion, applauded the initiative during the graduation ceremony for programme participants. He highlighted the challenges facing law enforcement in Nigeria and stressed the need for a collective national response.
“No single institution can solve Nigeria’s security problems alone,” Obodoagwu said. “The responsibility of ensuring safety and stability must be shared by all Nigerians. Programmes like this are crucial to fostering that sense of joint ownership and duty.”
As the newly trained community intelligence agents graduate, they are expected to play a vital role in bridging the gap between law enforcement and the public, helping to create safer communities across the country.