Insecurity: Anambra vigilance group trains 40 personnel in various skills

Chuks Eke, Awka

In its determination to retain Anambra State’s current status as the safest state in the country, the state Vigilante Supervisory Committee, has embarked on rigorous training and retraining exercise for its personnel to enable them withstand more security challenges.

For a start, no fewer than 40 male and female personnel were grilled for three weeks in the areas of unarmed combat, physical exercises, foot drills, professional and legal studies, use of English Language, communication skill, guard duties and e-security.

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In his keynote address at the passing out parade for the trainees, at the weekend, at Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, Chairman of the State Vigilante Supervisory Committee, Chief Ikechukwu Ayo Aduba, a retired Commissioner of Police, disclosed that the training exercise, which was co-ordinated by a Senior Zonal Supervisor for Anambra North Senatorial District of the committee, ACP Charles Osegbue, also a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), maintained that the essence of the exercise was to prepare them to face the current security challenges facing us today in Nigeria.

Aduba, who is also a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Vigilante Matters, commended the traditional ruler (Owelle) of Nimo, Igwe Maximus Ike Oliobi, for shouldering the expenses of the three-week training programme, thus demonstrating the need for the 179 communities in the state to partner with the state government in sponsoring certain security projects as according o him, government cannot do it alone.

According to Aduba, “Respective AVG units need retraining of their operatives in the face of herdsmen menace, rising crime rate, cultism and prevalence of drugs in various communities”.

He, therefore, called on other traditional rulers in the state to take a cue from Igwe Oliobi.

He advised on the need for functional town supervisory security committees and advocated that these security committees should headed by respective traditional rulers, with Presidents-General of town unions in the state as Secretaries; Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) as chairmen and AVG commanders as members of vigilance groups in their various communities.

He also commended the traditional Prime Minister (Onowu) of Nimo, retire Justice G. U. Ononiba, a one-time Chief Judge of Anambra state; Secretary of the state vigilante supervisory committee, Ostar Christopher; Senior Zonal Supervisor for Anambra Central, ACP Matthew Uyanna, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and the DPO at Nimo, P. D. Obasi for their efforts so far in putting the training programmes together.

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In his speech, Igwe Oliobi commended Aduba and his lieutenants for a ‘wonderful’ training programme and warned the trainees against dereliction of duty or misuse of the opportunity given to them to serve their community.

According to the monarch, “I will do my own bit and expect you to do yours because to whom much is given, much is also expected, adding, I will make Nimo a safe haven for each and all”.

DPO Obasi commended the efforts of AVG and urged other communities to emulate them in terms of retraining their own operatives, so as to continue being of immense assistance to the Nigeria Police  in the general fight against crime.

Obasi also advised all criminals, cultists and drug peddlers to vacate Nimo or face the full wrath of the law.

Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of certificates to the trainees by the monarch.