Gov Ugwuanyi: We’re Ready to Commence Community Policing *procures 100 security vehicles

Enugu State Governor,  Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday declared his administration readiness to commence Community Policing in its bid to address the rising wave of insecurity in the state.

Ugwuanyi made this known while unveiling the over one hundred vehicles bought by the state government to be used for security patrol in the various communities that exist in the state.

For the past few months, the state has been on the spotlight, following series of attacks by suspected herdsmen, which led to the death of a Catholic Priest, a woman and the kidnap of a traditional ruler who was later released.

But in his bid to forestall future recurrence of such dastardly act, Ugwuanyi said that the state government has decided to provide the vehicle for each of the 260 wards that exist in the state, adding that so far, 100 have been procured.

He explained that each local Police Station will have one patrol vehicle and that those locations that do not have local police will be provided with forest guards, adding that motorcycles will also be provided.

On the means of identification of the forest guards, he said “We are yet to decide whether those we are bringing on board as forest guards will have uniforms or not as a means of identification. That will be decided by security experts.

Noting that the State was the first to begin community policing, the governor said that he had to pull out a lot of funds to buy the vehicles and bring on board experienced individuals because the state cannot continue to risk losing lives of its people.

“What we need is the result from all of this measure we are putting in place. We also need support from well-meaning citizens as well as advice on how best to restore security in the state so we can continue to maintain our status” he said.

He further noted that a security trust fund which would have a board of trustees made up of individuals with proven integrity would also be established just like that of Lagos State, noting that all of these are intended to help us ensure adequate protection of lives and property in the state.

“Like state police, which is highly necessary, Community Policing which we are doing is most important because the people in the rural areas are usually worse hit when there are attacks,” he said, while calling on the media to always collaborate with the State Government in its quest to provide security for everyone. Ends