Herdsmen Palaver: Delta to Set up Own Security Outfit

Worried by the state of insecurity in the state, the Delta State Government has resolved to set up a special security organisation that is peculiar to the state.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chinedu Ebie, who disclosed the state security initiative at a press conference in Asaba on Tuesday, said the decision to establish the multifaceted security body was occasioned partly by the incessant bloody feud between some indigenous farming communities and nomadic Fulani herdsmen.

He, however, pointed out that this was not tantamount to a total loss of confidence in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and "it is certainly not targeted at the herders because they and the Arewa community have lived peacefully with us for decades- more that 30 to 40 years."

According to Ebie, "The idea to establish a new security outfit in the state is not borne out of lack of total confidence in the police and other security agencies but meant to coordinate them for effective results. Mind you, you cannot completely eliminate crime in any society."

A few things would be put in place before the new security outfit, which is code-named ‘Delta State Hawk’, is operationalised, he further said, adding that local community vigilance groups would be trained as they would play an important role in the security body that will include various security personnel but controlled by the state government.

Ebie said the process to midwife the legal muscle for the new state neighborhood security outfit was already in progress, as the state attorney-general was working on an executive bill towards fashioning out the requisite law.

The SSG, who was with Mr. Charles Aniagwu and Mr. Olisa Ifeajika, the state information commissioner and the chief press secretary to the governor (CPS) respectively, at the press conference, however, said the nascent security outfit would not put paid to the one being mooted by the governors of the six South-south states under the BRACED initiative.

 

Specifically, Ebie said based on his discussion "a few days ago with the Director-General of the BRACED Commission, Joe Keshi," he could say categorically that the plans for a regional security outfit under the BRACED group has not changed.

The BRACED Commission, which is a brainchild of the South-South group, comprises Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States, is currently chaired by Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

Nonetheless, the SSG hinted that the unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 has somewhat affected the activities of the BRACED Commission, which was scheduled to present to the South-south governors a blueprint on the proposed regional security organisation last month before the pandemic.