BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA— ANAMBRA State Government, yesterday in Awka, launched the state’s N2 billion security trust fund aimed at ensuring the elimination of crime in the state.

At the ceremony, during which a philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze, announced a donation of N500 million, with the state government releasing N300 million for the fund, Governor Peter Obi also handed over N356 million to presidents-general of each of the 178 autonomous communities for security and palliative measures in their areas.

Obi said prominent Anambrarians had indicated interest in the fund, adding that they had agreed to make donations that would be handled by a board of trustees, headed by an Nnewi-based business man, Chief Ajulu Uzodike.

He said with the proposal already put forward by the board, comprising people from the public and private sectors, as well as security operatives and religious leaders, the issue of kidnapping and other vices would soon be a thing of the past in the state.

He warned that government would sanction communities that harboured kidnappers and armed robbers by suspending traditional rulers and presidents-general of such communities. He advised them to use the money given to them for the purpose they were meant.

Obi said: “We decided to fund security properly because nothing can be achieved without adequate security and it must be done in a professional way.

“My promise is that the money contributed to the fund will be safe because the people we have selected to manage it are people with impeccable character.”

The deputy inspector general of police, DIG, in charge of ‘A’ branch in Abuja, Mr. Azubuko Udah, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, at the ceremony, lauded Anambra for investing heavily in security.

He recalled that the present administration in the state had been supporting security operatives through donation of large number of vehicles and security gadgets to ensure security in the state.

According to him, Anambra State is the second state after Lagos to launch the fund, adding that the success recorded in Lagos has made it imperative for other states to adopt the system in maintaining law and order.