OKOROCHA LAUNCHES ‘NIGER DELTA SECURITY NETWORK’ IN IMO
Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has launched a security outfit in Imo State known as the ‘Niger-Delta Security Network’ aimed at fighting cultism, vandalization of oil pipelines, kidnapping and other heinous crimes in the Oil Producing Areas of the State including Ohaji, Egbema and Oguta.
Inaugurating the security outfit at the Government House, Owerri yesterday, Governor Okorocha said it takes the indigenes of an area to effectively fight crimes in a given place since no criminal operation could succeed without the cooperation or information from an insider or someone who knows the terrain.
The governor reminded them that they should subject themselves to the authorities of the Police and other higher security agencies in the State and should not operate like a counter force to these security agencies.
His words “your duty is to find out the hiding places of these cultists or miscreants who have been terrorizing the oil producing areas of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta, flush them out and hand them over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution within three months.”
The governor continued “there are 250 of you who have been recruited to serve in the security network. You must not involve in any criminal activity yourself. If any of you is caught in any criminal activity, he goes to jail. You must be disciplined. You have been called to serve your people. That is why all of you are from the mentioned oil producing areas. We believe that those carrying out these cult activities are your people. You flush them out so that the majority of your people shall enjoy peace.”
He continued, “Recently, the Inspector General of Police emphasized on the need for community policing and even before now, we have been on that page. It takes those who know the criminals to apprehend them. The rate of cultism and other crimes in Ohaji, Egbema and Oguta has become worrisome to the government. And we have decided to take the bull by the horn.”
“The activities of these cultists have resulted to the death of innocent people and some Traditional Rulers have fled their homes to avoid being killed by these cultists. The State government will no longer tolerate the activities of such miscreants. We are going to do all within our power to check the ugly situation. That is the reason for setting up this security network” the governor added.
Governor Okorocha also directed that 16 area offices built for the organization be released to it and also released the sum of four Million Naira to the outfit to enable it cushion the harsh effect of the rigorous training they passed through while in camp.
He gave the Imo Niger Delta Security Network 90 days to bring the activities of the cultists under check and warned that members of the outfit will be dissolved if they do not achieve the set target within the stipulated period.
In his speech earlier, the Director General of the organization, Dr. Justice Harcourt thanked the governor for the interest he has shown in the development of the Niger Delta area of the State including the appointment of a son of the area, Engineer Kingsley Uju as the Deputy Chief of Staff and the establishment of a Marine University in Osemotto.
Dr. Harcourt requested for the opening of their head office in Owerri, the provision of vehicles, equipment, radio sets and torch lights for use by the security me
