Delta mulls law to establish own security outfit — SSG

The Delta State Government says it has concluded plans to set up its own security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk, to combat crimes in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chiedu Ebie, who disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday at Government House, Asaba, said the process of setting up the security outfit was being worked out.

“A bill to this effect will be sent to the State House of Assembly in the next few days,” the SSG said.

Ebie said the state government had resolved to establish an independent security outfit to help fight the rising wave of crimes, particularly that between herders and host communities in the state.

He noted that the outfit, which would comprise members of the security agencies and vigilante groups, would report directly to the state government.

The SSG said the structure of the outfit would be fine-tuned over time to meet the current security needs of the people.

He said: “Our main concern this morning is the rising state of insecurity – clashes between herders and their host communities.

“This matter has been under the focus of this government since its inception and it has informed the appointment and governance structure that has been created since coming into office.

“Some of them include the appointment of Special Advisers on Peace Building and Special Assistant on Security Matters, which focus on interacting and dealing with the herders and farmers clashes.

“This also led to the formation of vigilante groups in various communities.

“The state has been used to information and intelligence gathering, which recently led to the demolition of the Abraka Market in Asaba, which had turned into a meeting point of criminals.”

Ebie said the state government had also engaged the herders on peaceful co-existence and described the recent clash between them and farmers in the state as quite unfortunate.

He said: “Let me assure all that on behalf of the government of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa that we are rising to the challenge.

“Already, due complements of our security architecture are investigating the incidence and arrests have also been made on the recent disturbances in the state.

“More importantly, the state government has resolved to establish a special security outfit, which will be drawn from the existing security agencies and the vigilantes to act as an independent structure with code name: Operation Delta Hawk.”

The secretary to the state government said though funding of the security outfit remained a challenge, the state government was committed to realising the project to curb the current forms of crimes and violence in the state.

He warned that the state government was averse to self-help by any party or individuals, adding that such could lead to an unending cycle of violence, while condoling with victims of the recent clashes in the state.

Ebie, who sympathised with the residents of the state on the hardship occasioned by the novel coronavirus pandemic, said the state would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to fight the disease.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the state Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olisa Ifeajika, were present at the briefing.