September 18, 2014 – Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has decried the use of civilians in the management of security issues in Nigeria.
Uduaghan spoke when the newly posted Commissioner of Police to Delta State, Mr Alkali Baba Usman paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Asaba. Uduaghan expressed confidence in the ability of security operatives to tackle security challenges rather than civilians who were not trained in the act of providing security.
“We have refused to encourage civilian security outfits like Bakassi Boys and others because we believe the Police and other security agencies are capable of handling security challenges,” Dr Uduaghan told the CP who was accompanied by some heads of other security agencies in the state on the visit.
He reiterated that conventional security operatives have the ability to tackle any security challenge and added that secret cult activities have been banned in the state.
Buttressing why more than 40 identified secret cult groups were banned, Dr Uduaghan observed that it was sad that the cult groups have infiltrated secondary schools and communities, asserting that the activities of the secret cult groups poses security threat.
The Governor also used the opportunity to state that ahead of the 2015 general elections, it was good that politicians in the state were conducting their businesses peacefully and lawfully as well as accommodating to people with divergent views, but, appealed to the Commissioner of Police and Security agencies not to fail in their duty if any politician was caught engaging in acts capable of breaching the peace.
“We are determined to enthrone peaceful elections in Delta State … If we fall out of line, do not hesitate to whip us back to line”, he stated and advised the new CP to collaborate with other security agencies within and outside Delta State to enable him achieve the desired results.
While noting that criminals, especially, kidnappers have no boundary in their scope of operations, Governor Uduaghan assured CP Usman and other security agencies working in the state of regular assistance from his administration to enable them carry out their functions effectively.
Earlier, Mr Usman told the Governor and members of the state executive council that he was posted to Delta State to consolidate on the existing peace, asserting that with what Uduaghan’s administration has provided for the effective policing of the state, success was inevitable.
“I have come to Delta State to serve the government and the people, I have served in more than eleven states of the country and I have not seen this type of structure that has been put in place in Delta State, in any of those states. So, we have no reason to fail in the area of providing security in this state,” the Commissioner stated, adding, “I am ready to take all advice, all criticism to enable the people of Delta State sleep with their two eyes closed.”
