See security as a collective responsibility, Anirah, IGP tell Nigerians

By Ovasa Ogaga,

The Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman and the member representing Sapele constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, High Chief Felix Anirah have called on Nigerians to see security as a collective responsibility and contribute their quota to make Nigeria a safer place.

They stated this during the official handover of a newly built Sapele Police Area Command by Sapele Okpe Community/NPDC and SEPLAT Joint Venture to the Nigerian Police Force in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.

The IGP who was represented by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Muhammed Ali, while commending the community for the donation of the building said the realization of the project was a typical example of what citizens could do for the country not what the country can do for citizens alone.

He emphasized that the pleasure of enjoying the activity of the day was hinged on assurance of security in the area and stressed that rather than passing the buck, security is a collective responsibility and hence, sued all stakeholders to be committed to issues of security.

“Security is a collective responsibility, all of us are stakeholders when it comes to the issue of security, that is why it gladdens my heart that we have this one here, if you have problems bordering on security, you cannot call another person than the police and it is proper the police have an edifice like this one.”

He promised that the police will ensure proper utilisation and maintenance of the station.

Speaking also, the member representing Sapele in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Felix Anirah commended the community chairman for the project, saying that the gigantic project would have scared some persons away, he called on others to contribute their quota towards making Sapele safe.

According to Chief Anirah, “as a matter of fact, security is everybody business, the security situation in the country is worrisome, it has not been very pleasant for Nigerians, citizens now live in constant fear of who may be the next victim.

“The recent attack on NDA is very shameful, it’s a slap on our nation, the perpetrator must be brought to book, it’s not acceptable, it does not portray Nigeria in a good light before the international community, and I hope it does not reoccur.

“So, I want to urge the federal government to redouble its efforts in tackling the worsening security situation in the country, we are voting so much money into equipping the country security agencies, but we are not seeing the desired result, so, no one knows what the problem is.

“As it today, it is very unsafe to travel from one place to another in Nigeria, you have to be on prayer to get to your destination safe, because if you are not attacked by bandits, you may be kidnapped by herders, so I want to appeal that the government do more and check the situation degenerating further.

“And as a way of tackling the security menace, I think we should pay critical attention to issues of community policing and stop paying lip service to this globally acclaimed concept which has helped to check crime at the community level.

“On his take on the Anti-Open Grazing Bill before the State House of Assembly, Chief Anirah said, that the bill has received overwhelming support from members and will be given an accelerated hearing when the House resume because it will go a long way in ensuring food security.

“Most farmers in Delta find it extremely difficult to go to their farms for fear of been attacked by ravaging herdsmen, those who risked going to farm are either maimed, killed, raped by herdsmen, hence this bill is very timely, and it’s out of date to engage in open grazing of cattle, and I think anyone who wants to keep cattle should build ranches, that is the only way we will have peace and food sufficiency.

“I am highly elated and I want to commend the Executive of Sapele-Okpe community who deemed fit to put up this edifice which we are commissioning today, I want to say kudos to them and I hope they will do more for the security agencies in the locality.”

He charged police authority in Sapele to up their game and tackles security headlong haven be gifted with a befitting office to enhance their operations.