BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA—ANAMBRA State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has called on the people of the state to be security conscious to ensure safety of lives and property.

Speaking at a dinner in Awka as part of activities to launch the State Security Trust Fund, Obiano urged the people to contribute to the Fund to enable the government to procure essential equipment that would enable it prosecute successfully the current war against criminals.

The governor said:  “We are committed to aggressively clamp down on criminal elements that are bent on making life difficult for law abiding citizens across the state. To achieve our objective, we require funds to procure and equip security vehicles with real-time communication equipment for the use of the various security agencies.

“The state cannot do it alone and that is why we are knocking at your doors to identify with our security agenda by donating to the Security Fund.”

According to him, security agents are in need of functional armoured personnel carriers, while the grounded ones also need to be repaired, explaining that the new security vehicles would have communication equipment with trackers to enhance easy interaction and coordination among the security agencies in all parts of Anambra State.

“We are adopting a multi-pronged approach in the present onslaught against armed robbers, kidnappers and other miscreants, while further measures are being taken to protect the water routes through which some of the arms are smuggled into the Anambra State,” he said further.

Successes against criminals
He expressed happiness that the Joint Security Task Force he set up recently has already recorded successes against criminals, adding that over three hundred and fifty suspects have been arrested by the team. He also said that the Judiciary would be involved in the present campaign to ensure that those arrested face prosecution in the law courts and if found guilty, would serve the specified penalties to serve as deterrent to others.

Obiano told guests at the dinner that the Anambra Vigilante Group as presently constituted would undergo total overhaul to make it effective with proper training for the personnel to ensure they are alert to the needs of the communities by being able to gather intelligence in their local areas to assist the Police.

National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, noted that the provision of security was capital intensive and required the support of individuals, groups, corporate organizations, and multi-nationals. Umeh observed that a well-funded security network would ensure effective crime detection and control and called on all Anambra sons and their friends to identify with the governments’ security initiative by donating to the security fund.

In his contribution, the Chief Executive of Chisco Group, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, commended Governor Obiano for the bold steps he has taken to sanitize Anambra State and make the state investor-friendly and pledged his support to the Security Fund.