Banner Online News

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has been called upon to activate the Delta State Community Security Corps Law as a matter of urgency so as to fulfill its aim of curbing the increasing criminal activities in the state.

The Delta Online Publishers’ Forum (DOPF), which made the call in a letter to the governor on June 8, 2021, recalled that the law was signed by the governor on July 29, 2020 after the bill was passed by the state House of Assembly.

The group in a statement signed by the Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli and Secretary, Mr. Shedrack Onitsha said that the governor signed the bill into even before he officially flagged off the Operation Delta Hawk.

It stated that the delay in implementation is defeating the good intention of the law, especially with the recent Southern Governors decision on Open Grazing, which will need extra efforts from the state government to implement.

DOPF said: “It’s on record that because of this issue of increasing insecurity in the State, especially with the rampant cases of kidnapping and clashes between herders and farmers, you found it expedient to send an Executive Bill to the Delta State House of Assembly, known as the Delta State Security Corps Bill, 2020, aimed to establish a community-based security outfit to assist in the maintenance of  law and order in the state.

“The Delta State House of Assembly on June 20th, 2020 passed the bill for the establishment of Delta State Community Security Agency, and it was assented to by Your Excellency, the Governor on July 29, 2020 to become an Act.

“However, a year on, this Act, which we believe was well thought out to assist in enhancing security operations at the grassroots towards combating crime, and complementing other security agencies in the state is yet to be implemented.

“The Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during the passage of the bill had commended members for painstakingly working on the proposed law, saying that the 38-clause bill will help promote peace, security, and good governance in the state.

“We note with discomfort that a year after this law was assented to, there has been no move to implement it. What we saw was the formation of “Operation Delta Hawk” with so much funfairs with few operational vans and their operations restricted to Asaba, Agbor, and Warri.

“In calling Your Excellency’s attention to this law, we are asking that in the face of the recent development of new security challenges, you consider the following:

“Expedite action on the implementation of Delta State Community Security Corps Agency Law 2020.

“This call has become necessary in the face of the Federal Government’s controlled Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies’ likely refusal to enforce the Southern Governors’ declaration on ban on open grazing in Southern Nigeria.

“Be reminded that the law for the Delta State Community Security Agency Corps structure is to have members of the corps recruited within the state and possibly some members of the vigilantes as members, with its operational headquarters in Asaba and control by the state commander, the law also made provision for Zonal and local government commanders, which tend to place it as a communal based security formation, backed by law of the state.

“We think that the Delta State Government should show commitment to the security and welfare of Deltans, as a matter of urgency, and set up a committee to start forthwith the implementation of the Delta State Community Security Agency Corps Law.

“We want to believe that this government means well for Deltans when it sponsored this bill that has become law, but we are however, taken aback that you are yet to keep the commitment to execute the fundamentals of this law to make it operational.

“Your Excellency, as a responsible organization, we urgently advocate the implementation of this law to curb the daily pains that Deltans and other Nigerians residing in the state are facing as a result of security challenges, as the law, from our understanding, seeks to harmonise all the Local Vigilantes in the state, and this could also be the beginning of the process of the State Policing of which you have been a great advocate.

“We are partners in the development of the state, who are daily in the midst of the people, and we see what many go through in achieving their economic needs. As you may be aware, as the Executive Governor and Chief Security Officer of the State, some parts of this State have become prone to criminal elements who have occupied such areas.

“Once again, we request that Your Excellency gives urgent consideration to our call for immediate implementation of the law, even as we all await the Executive Bill to the State House of Assembly to give legal backing to the ban on Open Grazing in the State.”