South East breaking News
Communique ISSUED AT THE END OF THE ABIA STATE SECURITY SUMMIT HELD FROM 26th TO 28th MAY ,2021 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL OF THE HOTEL ROYAL DAMGRETE ,UMUAHIA ABIA STATE.
The Abia State Government conscious of its primary constitutional responsibility of safeguarding the lives and property of its citizens and visitors, convened a Three-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 had in attendance the Governor of the State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, his Deputy, Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and all members of the State Security Council, Heads of all Security Agencies in the State, Chairmen of Local Government Areas and their Deputies, State Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers and his Deputies, Chairmen of Traditional Rulers Advisory Council in Local Government Areas, and all retired officers of Abia origin of the Army, Police, Navy, Airforce and Department of State Services of Abia state origin.
At the end of the 3 days of deliberations Chaired by Lieutenant General Onyeabor Azubuike Ihejirika CFR, the following resolutions were arrived at by the Summit;
- 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 the Abia State Government for its untiring efforts so far in tackling headlong security situation in the State through credible support to security agencies in the State, constant interface and interactions as well as launching of a number of home -grown solutions to the problem of insecurity.
- 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 reiterated that such dastardly acts are not healthy for the state and region.
- The Summit notes the existence of Anti-Open Grazing Laws of Abia State and recommended its enforcement.
- The Summit resolved that there should be devolution of power to Local Governments on security matters for effective security of the State. Every Local Government Chairman in Abia State would be required to work with existing and home -grown structures to ensure the security of their local councils.
- The Summit recommends a new security architecture by the Abia State Government that will incorporate a community- based vigilante services, Homeland Security, (CPAMS) and ABSAS, that 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 security agencies to effectively manage information given to them by informants to avoid backlash against the informants and called for the institution of an effective incentive system to encourage more people to come forward with information on the activities of criminal elements in the State.
- 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 correlation exists between drug use and criminal activities. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should intensify efforts to rid 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 will be gainfully employed and be less inclined to criminality.
- The Summit urged the involvement of the State Legislature in the fight against crimes and criminality in Abia State by getting them to expeditiously pass laws that will ensure the security of the State.
- The Summit urged heads of tertiary institutions in Abia State to continue to evolve robust solutions to curb the issue of cultism and tertiary – institution – based criminal activities .
- The Summit urged greater inter-agency collaboration among security agencies in Abia State. It called for the creation of a robust central information sharing system that will enable other security agencies to be abreast of efforts of other agencies.
- 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 officials from the State to continue to advise the State Government on security issues in the state based on their experiences.
Issued this 28th Day of May, 2021.
Signed for and on behalf of the participants
Lt General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika (RTD) CFR Session chair.
DIG Azubuko Udah (Rtd)
Maj.Gen .C.O. Okoro (Rtd)
Rear Adm .Raphael Osondu (Rtd)
Brig.Gen.N.V.U .Nnorom (Rtd)
AIG Donald Iroham (Rtd)
Navy Capt .C.I Osondu (Rtd)
Chief Ray Nkemdirim ( Former Director of operations, DSS)
His Eminence
Eze Ndubuisi Nwabeke
Chairman ,Abia state council of Traditional Rulers .
Prof.A.C.B Agbazuere
Session Rapporteur