Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo has said the power of security was not in carrying weapons, but on ability to disseminate vital information that would prevent perpetration of crimes.

Obaseki made the assertion at the closing ceremony of a 4-day security awareness conference organised by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Edo Chapter in Benin.

The governor was represented at the programme by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, said community policing should be all about the ability to circulate useful information that would lead to reduction of criminal activities in the society.

Obaseki said information gathering was a collaborative effort, calling on the citizens to collaborate with the security agencies and the government in reducing crimes to the barest minimum.

According to him, the people perpetrating criminal activities lives amongst us and needed to be identified and reported to the appropriate authorities through intelligence gathering.

Obaseki said his administration was in a hurry to attract investors for the development of the state, adding that security was essential to achieving the goal.

Obaseki, while congratulating the participants, urged them to put into practice all they learnt at the conference.

In his remarks, the Commandant-General of VGN, Usman Jaun, thanked the participants for attending the conference, saying that it would sharpen their security skills.

Jaun said it was necessary for the body to re-align itself with the prevailing global approaches of greater efficiency, vital in the management of security information in the society.

Represented by Commandant Samuel Rotimi, he said security should be a collaborative effort through sensitisation, awareness and security education with the formal security personnel.

“There should be a call for a virile, efficient and effective collaboration among the stakeholders at the grassroots and security operatives.

“This is a way of winning the hearts and minds in the fight against insecurity in our society,” he said.

Also, a participant, Idemudia Blessing, thanked VGN for organising the security conference, saying it had sharpen their security skills.

Blessing said the skills acquired would enable them to contribute toward a ensuring a crime-free society.