Abia To Screen State-owned Security Agencies

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

The Abia State government has inaugurated a seven-man panel to screen state-owned security agencies, Abia Vigilante Service (AVS) and Abia State Homeland Security Watch.

Chief of Staff to the Governor Caleb Ajagba, who inaugurated the committee at the Government House said the move became necessary to instil discipline in the officers and achieve optimal security goals.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (rtd) said setting up of the committee was necessitated by Governor Alex Otti’s deep concern over the poor architecture of the community policing efforts.

He said the committee’s recommendations would assist the government on the best formula to reform the agencies for efficient and productive service delivery.

The committee’s terms of reference include – verifying and flushing out ghost workers, confirming their geographical spread, determining their levels of para-military training, taking inventory of arms and ammunition in their armoury, and ascertaining their method of arms and ammunition distribution and protection, as well as review and recommend to the government, the best formula for reformation and transformation.

Members of the screening panel are Assistant Commandant Ogbuehi Emmanue (Chairman), ASP Itiola Lawrence (police), CSC Chinomso Okorie (NSCDC), MWO Alidu Sylvester Bala (Navy), Capt. Abdulrasheed Alquasim (Army), Chinenye Alajemba and Assistant Director Tony Ifeanyi Izim (rtd) of the DSS who is the secretary.

Commandant Emmanuel said the committee will perform its assignment diligently and ensure Abia is secured.