Southern Governors To Take Crucial Decisions On Insecurity

*Delta to host parley today
*IG plans synergy with military

Governors of the 17 southern states will take far-reaching
decisions to halt growing insecurity.

Top on the plate, it was learnt, is the persistent attacks on
police assets and killing of policemen in the Southeast and
Southsouth.

No state in the two zones has been spared the gunmen
attacks.

The country home of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was
attacked. But for the prompt response of security men, the house in
Omuna would have been razed.

Herdsmen have also been killing people – especially farmers –
across the states in the southern region.

This is in addition to the kidnapping for ransom which has
assumed a dangerous dimension.

Southwest governors created Amotekun while their Southeast
counterparts are in the process of setting up Ebube Agu – security
outfits to assist the police which are overwhelmed by the
situation.

Sixteen governors are expected at the meeting to be hosted by
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa today in Asaba.

They are Dr Kayode: Fayemi (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Godwin
Obaseki (Edo), Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde
(Oyo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

Others are Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom),
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rotimi Akeredolu
(Ondo), David Umahi Ebonyi, Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Willy
Obiano (Anambra).

Osun State Governor Adegboyaga Oyetola is in Saudi Arabia for
lesser Hajj. He will not be attending.

Delta State Information Commissioner Charles Aniagwu said: “By
the Grace of God, 16 southern governors, including my boss Governor
Okowa, will attend this one day meeting”.

To prepare for today’s meeting, a virtual parley was held by
Governors Akeredolu, Umahi and Okowa – chairmen of Southwest,
Southeast and Southsouth governors’ forum respectively, to agree on
the focus of the meeting and the agenda.

“A source said the meeting will take a decision that will douse
the tension that has enveloped the region.

“They will also explore areas of cooperation to adopt a
concerted method to fight this menace.”

Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman yesterday promised
to collaborate with the military in the battle against criminality.
He spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He spoke at the graduation ceremony of Tactical Leadership and
Command Course (TLCC) 16/2021 of Police Staff College, Jos.

Represented by Mr Danmallam Mohammed, the DIG in-charge of
Training and Development, Force Headquarters, the IG said: “We are
working hard to make sure that peace and tranquility are restored
to crisis areas in Nigeria.

“Security is everybody’s business; we cannot do it alone. So, we
are doing our best to reach out and ensure inter-agency cooperation
with other security agencies, especially the military.

“By the special power of God Almighty, and support of Nigerians,
we are going to defeat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all
other forms of insecurity in this country, “he said.

*Delta to host parley today
*IG plans synergy with military

Governors of the 17 southern states will take far-reaching
decisions to halt growing insecurity.

Top on the plate, it was learnt, is the persistent attacks on
police assets and killing of policemen in the Southeast and
Southsouth.

No state in the two zones has been spared the gunmen
attacks.

The country home of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was
attacked. But for the prompt response of security men, the house in
Omuna would have been razed.

Herdsmen have also been killing people – especially farmers –
across the states in the southern region.

This is in addition to the kidnapping for ransom which has
assumed a dangerous dimension.

Southwest governors created Amotekun while their Southeast
counterparts are in the process of setting up Ebube Agu – security
outfits to assist the police which are overwhelmed by the
situation.

Sixteen governors are expected at the meeting to be hosted by
Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa today in Asaba.

They are Dr Kayode: Fayemi (Ekiti), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Godwin
Obaseki (Edo), Uzodimma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde
(Oyo) and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos).

Others are Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom),
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Rotimi Akeredolu
(Ondo), David Umahi Ebonyi, Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Willy
Obiano (Anambra).

Osun State Governor Adegboyaga Oyetola is in Saudi Arabia for
lesser Hajj. He will not be attending.

Delta State Information Commissioner Charles Aniagwu said: “By
the Grace of God, 16 southern governors, including my boss Governor
Okowa, will attend this one day meeting”.

To prepare for today’s meeting, a virtual parley was held by
Governors Akeredolu, Umahi and Okowa – chairmen of Southwest,
Southeast and Southsouth governors’ forum respectively, to agree on
the focus of the meeting and the agenda.

“A source said the meeting will take a decision that will douse
the tension that has enveloped the region.

“They will also explore areas of cooperation to adopt a
concerted method to fight this menace.”

Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman yesterday promised
to collaborate with the military in the battle against criminality.
He spoke in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

He spoke at the graduation ceremony of Tactical Leadership and
Command Course (TLCC) 16/2021 of Police Staff College, Jos.

Represented by Mr Danmallam Mohammed, the DIG in-charge of
Training and Development, Force Headquarters, the IG said: “We are
working hard to make sure that peace and tranquility are restored
to crisis areas in Nigeria.

“Security is everybody’s business; we cannot do it alone. So, we
are doing our best to reach out and ensure inter-agency cooperation
with other security agencies, especially the military.

“By the special power of God Almighty, and support of Nigerians,
we are going to defeat insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and all
other forms of insecurity in this country, “he said.