From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Abia State Security Summit has taken a holistic look at the Anti-Open Grazing Law of the state and recommended its enforcement by government.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu convened a 3-day Stakeholders Summit on Security to brainstorm with experts on the subject and proffer solutions on how to sustain a peaceful and safe Abia State.

The summit which held between May 26 to 28 in Umuahia and attended by serving and retired police officers from the rank of assistant Commissioner or its equivalent in other services, was chaired by Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika.

The Summit in its communique condemned in very strong terms the attacks on security formations in the State and commiserated with the Nigerian Police, other security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who have lost personnel and assets, stressing that such dastardly acts are not healthy for the state and region as a whole.

Communique of the Security Summit read in part, “The Summit commended Abia State Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD for the thoughtfulness of convoking the State Roundtable Security Summit tagged: ABIA STATE SECURITY SUMMIT 2021 and for inviting senior security officers of Abia State origin to avail the State of their experience and expertise.

“The Summit commended law enforcement officers serving in Abia State for their professionalism and dedication to their duty even in the face of obvious targeted attacks and urged them to remain steadfast in their primary responsibility of securing the state and its citizens.

“The Summit condemned in very strong terms the attacks on security formations in the State and commiserated with the Nigerian Police, other security agencies, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who have lost personnel and assets, and emphatically stated that such dastardly acts are not healthy for the state and region.

“The Summit resolved that there should be devolution of power to Local Governments on matters concerning security for effective security of the State. Every Local Government Chairman in Abia State would be required to work with existing and homegrown structures to ensure the security of their local councils.

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“The Summit recommended a new security architecture by the Abia State Government that will incorporate a community based vigilante services, Homeland Security, (CPAMS) and ABSAS, all of which will work in conjunction with the statutory security agencies to enhance the security and safety of the State.

“The Summit called on the citizenry to continue to work with the security agencies in Abia State in the area of providing information noting that perpetrators of these nefarious acts are from amongst the people and with robust information management system, it will be easy to apprehend them.

“The Summit urged traditional rulers in Abia State to continue to play active roles in securing their domains noting that they are very important in the security equation because of their proximity to the people and knowledge of people resident in their domains.

“The Summit recommended the review of the curfew in Abia North Senatorial Zone from 6pm to 6am, to 8pm to 6am.

“The Summit called for more stringent crackdown on illicit drug usage in the State as coloration exists between drug use and criminal activities. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should intensify efforts in ridding the State of illicit drug dealers and users.

“The Summit called on the Abia State Government to continue to create the enabling environment for human security by providing more jobs, and other economic opportunities for the teeming youths of Abia State so that they would be gainfully employed and be less inclined to criminality.

“The Summit urged the involvement of the State Legislature in the fight against criminality in Abia State by getting them to expeditiously pass laws that will ensure the security of the State.

“The Summit urged the Abia State Government to, apart from the Abia State Security Council, constitute an Abia State Scurity Advisory Committee made up of serving and retired senior security officers from the State to continue to advise the State Government on security issues based on their experiences”.

Recommendations and the communique of the security summit would be submitted to Gov Ikpeazu for study and possible implementation.