The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Thursday, announced the state government’s resolve to adopt modern technology in tackling crimes across the state.
The Governor who was worried by the growing insecurity in parts of the State, issued a stern warning to local government council chairmen, insisting that consistent attendance and active participation in monthly security council meetings is non-negotiable.
Speaking during a high-level security stakeholders meeting in Asaba, the governor expressed displeasure over reports that some council chairmen have been neglecting their roles in coordinating grassroots security efforts.
He emphasized that the monthly security council meetings are crucial for assessing threats, sharing intelligence, and coordinating responses to crime, and warned that any chairman who fails to take the meetings seriously would face disciplinary actions, including possible suspension.
Governor Oborevwori stressed that with renewed state of kidnapping, cult clashes and cult related killings as well as drug abuse, there was need for all security stakeholders to up their game in ensuring enhanced peace and security across the state.
He further said that deployment of advanced surveillance systems, crime-mapping tools, and data-driven intelligence will enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies and reduce criminal activities.
He commended traditional rulers and security stakeholders for their continued support and partnership with government in the fight against armed robbery, kidnapping and other forms of violent crimes in the state.
“Your commitment towards enhancing peace and security of the state is very commendable, however there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Reports of insecurity especially kidnapping are still prevailent, this very disturbing and I urge our youths not to resort to social media and making inciting statements but to collaborate with security agencies and local vigilantes to confront the kidnappers and the perpetrators of other heinous crimes in their communities.
“Security is a shared responsibility and as Council Chairmen you campaigned to win election, and you should know your environment very well.
“House of Assembly members and Commissioners from every local government; we must all do our best to ensure that we have enhanced peace and security in our various local government areas.
“We have been collaborating with the various security agencies, we have coordinated raids on blackspots across the state and we have recorded several successes in this regard. We are doing our best and we have destroyed kidnapping rings.
“The insecurity in the state has been compounded by the influx of undesirable elements from neighbouring states especially from across the Niger.
“Very soon, we shall deploy technology to help detect and engage all these criminals undermining the peace of our dear state.
“I earnestly expect that our local government council chairmen who are the chief security officers of their local government should hold their security council meetings regularly and brief me through the commissioner for local government or brief me directly.”
He vowed to hold the ALGON Chairman and his executives responsible for failure of Council chairmen to hold regular security council meetings and charged council chairmen to work together with the traditional rulers in their local government areas.
He said; “As a governor, I manage all the traditional rulers in the state. So if I can manage all of them, you can also manage the traditional rulers in your respective local government areas.
“Look at the rate of crime in our society today, our children are into drugs and all sorts of social vices. So you need to check what is happening around you. We will not take any form of laxity from any Chairman. By the time we use one or two persons as examples, others will sit up.
“The conventional security agents deployed are trying their best and the community vigilante are to support and complement their efforts especially because they are more familiar with our people.
“Hence, the council chairmen should ensure adequate funding are provided for them. If you don’t support them, they won’t work to aide the conventional security agencies.
“I expect that the relationship between the stakeholders especially the traditional rulers and the security agencies should be cordial. Any domain whose traditional ruler is not cooperating with our security agencies would not be tolerated.
“This is the reason I called you here to share ideas and suggestions on how to proffer lasting solutions to the security challenges we have in the state such as kidnapping, drug abuse, and so on.”
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, said the stakeholders had a useful discussion where it was agreed upon that serious measures will be taken to curb the issue of kidnapping that is rearing its head in some places.
“The various groups commended Governor Oborevwori and the security agencies for all they are doing to making sure Delta state is peaceful and safe, all the efforts they have been making so it is agreed upon that criminals, troublemakers alike, kidnappers should stay far from our state.”
Chairman Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Maj Gen. Felix Mujakperuo (rtd), Orhue I, appreciated Governor Oborevwori on the security stakeholders meeting and disabused the mind of Nigerians who believed that traditional rulers give lands to herders and collect money from them, saying “this is not true; in various communities, the lands belong to either the communities or families it doesn’t belong to traditional rulers.
“Some bad elements in our communities take money from the helders and they will say that our kings are aware just to rubbish the traditional rulers. We believe that what we have done today will go a long way to ensure that security of the state is at the top.
“We haven’t seen the presence of the Federal Forest Guards in all the local government, so we have not been able to use the local hunters effectively. But what we know is that we have vigilante in our various communities, the only problem we have is that they have not been properly funded.”
The Commander of the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Asaba, Brig. Gen. Folu Shonibare, said stakeholders at the expanded security council meeting were able to come together and agreed on how to curb the menace of kidnapping, cultism, farmers/herders clashes and the issue of drug abuse in the state.
He disclosed that security agencies will continue to do their best to make sure that the state was cleared of all criminals, stressing that their efforts was already yielding impressive results as over 16 civilians that were about to be kidnapped were recently rescued in the state.
On the protest that erupted in Abraka recently, the Brigade Commander said contrary to rumours making the rounds, nobody was shot as the military cleared the protest peacefully, pointing out that his men were very professional in discharging their duties.
“The particular protest in Abraka went violent as it was hijacked by hoodlums who started flogging civilians along the road side, started closing down shops, forcing people to join the protest and even blocked the highway causing a very major gridlock; so, it was chaotic and the military had to wade in as the police were overwhelmed. Nobody was shot in that incident,” he added.
Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Hon Possible Ajede, who spoke on behalf of the council chairmen, said; “we have been further directed to move back to our respective local governments to take issue of security further. It is a marching order and it is our position in line with the meeting now that all criminal elements should relocate from the state.”
