WHY WE ARE CONSTRUCTING SECRETARIAT FOR VIGILANTE GROUP ~ EMOLGA Council Chair, Chidi Lloyd gives reasons
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr CHIDI JULIUS LLOYD says security of lives and property in the LGA is one of the cardinal objectives of his administration.
He argued that it is only “when we have peace that we can talk about development in the local government”.
Dr CHIDI LLOYD stated this during the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of a secretariat building for the local security outfit in the area now known as EMOLGA Vigilante Service and no longer OSPAC.
The EMOLGA Council Boss explained the reason for building the secretariat, saying that it would give a face to whatever security arrangement he is putting on ground to police communities in the LGA.
“So, the essence of our gathering here today is to give a face to our vigilante. We are trying to cement the peace that we now enjoy in this local government.
“To this extent, we had to send an executive bill to the legislature to pass and give us a vigilante system that works; a vigilante system that will assist the Police and other security agencies in the local government area to keep the peace”.
The Emohua Council chairman, who noted that the Vigilante Group would not meddle into trivial issues of settling cases between husband and wives, stressed that their job would be to strictly assist the Police and other security agencies in fighting crimes.
“The law will be clear as to what they are supposed to do for the local government. What this vigilante group will do is to ensure they work with the security agencies to keep the peace, the law gives them the power to arrest and when they arrest, they hand over immediately to the nearest Police Station, that is what they are supposed to do.
“So, what we have done is to give them an enabling environment to carry out their functions, so that we will not be having incessant complaints of people who now take laws into their hands.
“By the time this secretariat will be through, it will give confidence to road users. Those who use the road will know that our local government is a gate way local government”.
Dr CHIDI LLOYD also said his administration decided to overhaul the entire local security system and give it a legislative backing to enable the operatives be guided by law, describing the ongoing office construction as very important.
“Anybody that has any complain of harassment from anybody will at least have a place to make his or her complain; so that the vigilante group won’t just be carrying on in a manner that suggests that they are not being regulated”.
He revealed that the council would finance the security services and appealed to well meaning individuals and companies operating in the LGA to provide logistics support in realizing the goals.
“The council intends to provide adequate logistics in terms of vehicles like Hilux that will make them respond swiftly to distress calls.
“We want to use this opportunity to call on eminent personalities in the local government area to contribute and assist the council with vehicles and other logistics.
“We also appeal to companies that operate in our local government to invest in security, there is no amount that you will put here that will be too much at ensuring the peace”.
Our correspondent reports that the member representing Emohua Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. SAM OGEH performed the foundation laying ceremony of the Vigilante Secretariat building located at the Mgbuitawo junction along the East West Road.