By Vincent Ujumadu, Awka

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, said, yesterday, in Awka, that armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism had remained rampant in the southern states of Nigeria.

The IGP, who chaired the security conference organized by the South East and Delta State governors, promised that the police would collaborate with the governors to provide adequate security in the zone.

Apart from the Anambra State governor, Willy Obiano, Governors Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia were  in attendance, while Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State sent his secretary to the state government, Professor Bernard Odoh. However, Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was conspicuously absent.

The conference, held under the theme; ‘ Security: bedrock of governance’ , was also attended by the Director General of the Department of State Service, DSS ,Hauwal Musa Daura, federal lawmakers, state legislators  and  traditional rulers.

Arase said the initiative by Obiano to hold a security conference not just for his state, but to also bring in his fellow  state governors to form an alliance on ways to ensure the security of the states in the zone was commendable.