DPO Appoints Two Deaf Persons As Community Police In Bauchi

L-R Alhamdu libilibi with DPO Mr Phillip, Isma’il Abdullahi and a woman

The Yelwa e-division Deputy Police Officer (DPO) in Bauchi State, Mr. Phillip E. Akolo has accepted to work with the deaf in the area to assist in community policing especially in the area of communicating with deaf persons.

To this end, two persons Isma’il Abdullahi and Alhamdu Libilibi Yakson have been enlisted as community deaf police in the zone.

INN had gotten a tip off about the development from one of it’s agents and made moves to find out more.

Our source said that Isma’il Abdullahi was at a time residing in Plateau State before moving to Bauchi his home town where he is working with Alhamdu as Deaf teachers in Special Education Centre Bauchi

While there, they paid a visit to the DPO Yelwa Division Mr. Phillip E .Akolo and explained to him some of the challenges encountering by the deaf community in the State for lack of police officers that will pay much attention to their problems when reported and also explain to him how Jos deaf are working with police to protect life and properties of people.

“We in Bauchi need same preferential treatment” he added.

Our source also gathered that on hearing this, he (DPO) decided to approve their request by accepting two of them to work with them as Community Deaf police where they will be involved in weekly patrol with the DPO.

The DPO urged them to work very hard so as to make a strong case for them to the Commissioner of Police to start employing more Deaf through them to join community policing.

In a chat with INN, one of the appointees, Isma’il Abdullahi, recounted how he got appointed to serve as community police in Bauchi State.

Narrating the story, he said “It started last week around 12th May, 2020 when one of my deaf friends (Alhamdu Yakubu) went out on his bike during lockdown at night unknowingly to him that the State government imposed lockdown from 8pm to 5pm. His bike was seized. He tried to convinced the policemen but proved to be abortive.They later released the bike to him after serious arguments with the Police as he was not aware of the lockdown order.”

“By listening to his complain, I advised him better for us to visit the DPO of Yelwa to explain to him the need to include Deaf people as community Deaf Police to work together with the Police as a team. We narrate to him about Plateau Deaf Community Police and show him their picture. He was overwhelmed with joy and even told us that there is one Deaf man, Mamuda by name who is working with him since.The man is strong and always work hard in arresting law breakers who are people without Disabilities. He then introduced us to him”

“From there he said as a DPO he can only approve 2 to 3 people to work with him.That is how he approved me (Abdullahi Ismail) and my friend Alhamdu Yakubu plus the other deaf man Mamuda. We’re now three Community Deaf Police in Bauchi State.

When INN thought the group were the first to be appointed as community deaf police, Abdullahi went further to explain that the community deaf police had started in Plateau State first before he was appointed.

He said “Plateau Deaf Citizens are the first Citizens in Nigeria to Join Deaf Police. Second is Bauchi Deaf Citizens.”

L-R A colleague with Peter Izang in the middle and Habila Turawa posing for the photograph during their COVID-19 lockdown duty in Jos

Narrating how the appointment of Community Deaf Police started in Nigeria’s history in Plateau State he said “Deaf Police started in Jos over 15 years ago as result of some law breakers among some deaf in different States trooping into the State to engage themselves in social vices such as kidnapping, forcing deaf girls into begging among others.

These social vices made the Chairman of Plateau Deaf Association to come together and visit Commissioner of police to address the issue.”

“They also told the commissioner that they want to volunteer themselves to work with the Police and bring those law breakers among the deaf to be punish for violating the law. That’s how the commissioner approved their request.They can also help the police once they see other person violating the law.They have the right to arrest him and bring to Police station.”

INN learnt that the group has started working with the DPO on Friday, patroling the city against offenders and law breakers in the State. They are to work the night shifts from 9pm to 5am every Friday and Saturday.