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ADF STAFF
In Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu, where al-Shabaab militants continue to plot attacks, people are fighting back with security cameras.
In recent months, bustling commercial centers have suffered a wave of bombings by the al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist group targeting the businesses that installed closed-circuit cameras.
Mohamed Ahmed Diriye, the deputy mayor of Mogadishu for security and political affairs, addressed the media while standing in Bakaara Market, the largest in the country.
“They are fighting against the cameras because they don’t want to be seen,” Diriye said after a series of bombings earlier this year. “It will never stop. We will work on it. We want the people to be alert.”
Thousands of security cameras have been installed throughout the city since the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) issued a directive in 2023 for businesses in large commercial centers to use them. Al-Shabaab previously had targeted streetlights and surveillance cameras that were attached to main roads and intersections.
NISA has recorded incidents of al-Shabaab militants intimidating businesses as part of the group’s program of systematic extortion. Al-Shabaab generates an estimated $100 million a year through illegal taxes, forced donations and extortion. The Somali government made a concerted effort in 2023 to tackle al-Shabaab’s finances and said it succeeded in cutting the group’s revenue streams in half by shutting down suspected bank and mobile money accounts and by targeting the militants’ taxation schemes.
The primary goals of NISA’s security-camera mandate were to monitor the activities of al-Shabaab militants in key areas, gather vital evidence and give people a sense of safety. But al-Shabaab quickly responded with a spokesperson issuing threats to target anyone who complied, leading to the closure of several businesses.
“There are murderers called Khawarij (Arabic translation: “seceders” or “those who exit the community”) who are against the stability of this country,” Diriye said. “When weakened, they try whatever acts they can to disrupt.”
At least six people were killed and four wounded in attacks on businesses in the Dayniile and Hodan districts since the start of October. Some were victims of bombings, while others were business owners assassinated in shocking daytime raids. In August, al-Shabaab fighters set fire to two major markets on the outskirts of Mogadishu, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Business community leaders said the attacks were in response to the installation of security cameras.
Diriye said the cameras are indispensable, effective tools in the fight against al-Shabaab.
“These cameras serve a crucial purpose in safeguarding our neighborhoods,” he said. “They play a vital role in preventing crimes and facilitating the identification and apprehension of offenders.”
Several businessmen told the Reuters news agency that al-Shabaab operatives ordered them to take down the cameras, but government officials have warned they could face consequences for doing so.
“We warn them against taking orders from terrorists,” Diriye told Reuters after the October attacks. “Anyone who removes the cameras will face the law.”
Farah Aden, a shopkeeper in Dayniile, said business owners feel trapped and vulnerable to attacks. “There is new fear due to security cameras,” he said. “We are in a dilemma. We are caught between two opposite directives.”
Other Mogadishu residents welcomed the surveillance cameras. Second-year university student Ahmed Ibrahim said they are reassuring to people trying to lead normal lives.
“In the past, it was difficult to attend school or college,” he said. “There used to be explosions just outside the school or university campus and when going back home.”
Diriye vowed to bolster the presence of security forces in Mogadishu’s commercial centers.
“After much effort we succeeded in persuading people to install cameras,” he told the news agency. “Many security intelligence forces in plain clothes were deployed to Bakaara market and stayed there day and night to ensure the safety of the camera installation until locals got accustomed to the cameras.”
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The Abia State government says it will continue to make the welfare of the families of security personnel who died in active service in the state a top priority.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba who stated this at the Government House in Umuahia, on Tuesday while handing over cheques to the deceased’s spouses, said the money is solely to cater for the educational needs of their children.
Pastor Ajagba also explained that the gesture was in fulfilment of Governor Alex Otti’s promise to the bereaved families when he visited them and pledged the government’s continued support towards the welfare of their families.
Ajagba urged the children of the deceased to ensure they reciprocate the gesture by being serious with their studies, adding that the government will see them through school up to university level.
He further disclosed that the Abia State government will also monitor the general well-being of the affected families to ensure that the wives of the deceased security personnel are meaningfully engaged.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Unamka Olachi thanked Governor Alex Otti for his magnanimity and promised that the funds would be utilized for the sole purpose for which it was meant.
Godwin Obaseki, the outgoing Governor of Edo State, says there will be a problem if the incoming government of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, prioritizes politics over security, noting that the citizens will demand a secure environment.
DAILY POST reports that Obaseki, who spoke at the last State Security Council Meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, boasted that his government is leaving the security of the State much better than he met it in 2016.
He, however, advised the incoming government against prioritizing politics over security.
DAILY POST reports that Obaseki was first elected governor of the state in 2016 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and was reelected in 2020 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He would be completing his eight years as governor on November 12, 2024, when he would be handing over to Okpebholo.
Obaseki said, “I am leaving Edo much better, security-wise, than when I met it. My advice to the incoming administration is to take security seriously and never prioritize politics over security because there will be problems as citizens need to demand a secure environment.
“We have shown that it’s possible because we have men and women who have the capacity and training to offer security services to the State and the people of the State.
“We will continue to ensure you protect our country as nobody will fix Nigeria for us; we have to fix it ourselves. We should realize that we have no other country to call our own and no matter the frustration, we should ensure we fix the country.”
Obaseki who attributed his success to the collaboration and support received from heads of security agencies, posited that together, they have changed the narrative and the perception of security in the state.
He also attributed the development and growth in the domestic environment, as well as the interest of investors in the state to “secured environment in the state”.
He added that in the last eight years, his administration has prioritized security and invested hugely in the state’s security architecture, transforming Edo into one of Nigeria’s safest states to live in and do business.
He commended the people and the various security agencies in the state for supporting and collaborating with his government in tackling insecurity and ensuring the safety and security of people and properties in the State.
“I thank all security agencies in the state for the collaboration as their efforts have made the state secure and safe for all.
“The spirit of collaboration has helped us solve many problems in the area of security. I commend the Department of State Security (DSS) as they were open and ready to give us information always. By adopting technology, we were able to cover the state and make it safe for our people.
“Using technology, we have been able to document every incident in the state and review the same, and work together to respond to the security situation in the state.
“The civil defense corps has been a great collaborator in terms of improving security in the state and by extension the protection of federal assets in Edo State. As a state, we can tackle security challenges head-on as our collaboration has yielded positive results.
“The traffic agencies have done an amazing job in the last eight years as there have been improvements in the flow of traffic across the state”, he added.
The governor called for the participation of all stakeholders in fixing the nation, noting that “No one can fix Nigeria but us”.
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed two security officials comprising a member of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps and one vigilante member in Jibia Local Government Area of the State.
Five persons also sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the simultaneous coordinated attacks carried out by the hoodlums in three quarters in Jibia township on Thursday November 7.
It was gathered that the hoodlums launched the attacks at about 2115 hrs (9:15 pm), on Ka’ida, Unguwar One Boy, and Danmarke quarters, all in Jibia township, Jibia LGA, Katsina State.
The state police spokesman, ASP Abubakar Sadiq confirmed the incident on Friday in a statement, saying the injured persons were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Abubakar said said the Command, in collaboration with the military, members of the state community watch corps, and vigilantes, successfully foiled the attacks where, the swift response of the joint security team led by the DPO Jibia repelled the attackers, resulting in a fierce gun duel that lasted for over an hour.
“The superior firepower and tactical advantage of the joint security team eventually forced the bandits to retreat with unspecified casualties as the operation resulted in the successful rescue of sixteen (16) victims trapped by the bandits.
“Further development will be communicated in due course, please,” the police spokesman said.
According to him, the Command in conjunction with sister security agencies, is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
The State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa, reassured the general public of the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and properties.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has said community policing is very important in the restoration of security in the state.
The Police chief stated this during during an advocacy and assessment visit to Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A statement made available to journalists by the spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that Itam, during the visit, addressed HRH Obi Sir Patrick Mabamalu Okeke JP, the traditional ruler of Abagana the Local Government Chairman, President Generals of communities, vigilante operatives and other indigenes of the area.
The statement said, “In a continuous commitment to strengthen the security in the state, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has sustained the advocacy and security assessment in the 21 local government area to enhance collaboration with community leaders, indigenes, residents to improve safety.
“During the interaction with the Stakeholders the CP emphasize the importance of community policing and called for an honest and patriotic involvement in identifying and prioritizing our differences to develop deliberate plans for addressing the problems.
“The CP also reiterated we have a common enemy that has restricted our movement on Mondays, crippled businesses of Ndi Anambra, and commit havoc in the State.
“He urged the people to join the Police and other security agencies to take back our space and deny these criminal elements the space they use to cause tension in the State.”
The Canadian government has shut down the operations of the Chinese-owned TikTok business in the country.
The government ordered the ban on Wednesday, citing national security risks.
François-Philippe Champagne, the country’s industry minister, in a statement, clarified that the ban includes the closure of “TikTok’s offices in Toronto and Vancouver, while Canadians can continue using the mobile app with caution.
“The government is not blocking Canadians’ access to TikTok application or blocking their ability to create content. The decision to use a social media app or platform is a personal choice.
“The government’s action is to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd’s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.”
TikTok has been facing intensifying scrutiny from America and Europe over security and data privacy.
The Police Command in Lagos State has detained a dog owner, Salisu Mustapha, after dogs belonging to him allegedly mauled a security guard to death.
It was gathered that the dog owner did not properly lock in his dogs, they escaped and mauled the estate security guard.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the detention of the dog owner in a post he shared in its verified X handle @benHundeyin on Wednesday.
He said that the incident happened on Tuesday at Pinnock Estate, Ilasan, Lekki.
“The police has apprehended the owner of the dogs following the unfortunate mauling of a security man to death by three dogs in Pinnock Estate, Ilasan, Lekki on November 5.
“The command also confiscated the dogs pending the outcome of discreet investigations that have since begun,” the image maker said.
According to him, the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, assured members of the public of justice.
“CP Ishola assures residents of the estate and the entire people of the state that the ongoing investigations will be brought to a conclusive end and that justice will be served as appropriate,” he said.
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has challenged security agencies to go after the real culprits of the August 1 #Endbadgovernance nationwide protest, instead of innocent minors.
Sanusi stated this on Wednesday when he visited the released minors at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Kano, where they are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
“Many of them are students who go to school. They were picked up in the streets not in the middle of the violent act.
“It is sad that they received this treatment. But we thanked the presidency and federal government for intervening and bringing an end to their difficulties. If this had continued, I am sure many of them would have lost their lives.
“We urge the authorities to focus on the adults who started this riot. This riot happened in Kano, photographs were taken, people were identified, those people have been walking round the streets including in Abuja while these children have been in custody.
“We hope that in the interest of justice when things of this nature happen, we will identify the real culprits and arrest them and try them rather than innocent children,” he said.
The royal father applauded President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abba Yusuf for coming to the aid of the children, thanking good spirited individuals for their concern in releasing the detainees.
ADF STAFF
Months of battlefield losses and hundreds of defections appeared to weaken Boko Haram, but it has not stopped the extremists from continuing to terrorize the Lake Chad Basin.
Experts say that because the group has shown an alarming ability to reorganize and adapt its tactics, security forces must be just as flexible and resilient.
Encompassing parts of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin has proved to be a troublesome theater with its many swamps and islands.
All four countries contribute troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that recently concluded Operation Lake Sanity 2, which dismantled several terrorist hideouts.
“The [operation] resulted in the neutralization of numerous Boko Haram terrorist combatants, the successful rescue of several hostages, and the capture of arms and ammunition,” the MNJTF said in a statement on October 26, 2024.
Remadji Hoinathy and Célestin Delanga, researchers with the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, said that security forces must anticipate the terrorist group’s next pivot.
“Operation Lake Sanity has had some success against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, but the insurgents will soon adapt to the new military tactics,” they wrote in a September 16, 2024, article. “To sustain the gains made, the Multinational Joint Task Force leading the operation must stay ahead of these dynamics.”
After MNJTF operations, militants fled into peripheral areas, where they attacked civilians and increasingly used suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The use of vehicle-borne IEDs and those buried in the ground poses a grave risk for security forces and calls for demining operations and technologies like mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles,” the researchers wrote.
“Boko Haram’s use of IEDs and suicide attacks propagates fear and disrupts both community cohesion and military efforts. These tactics must be tackled head-on to prevent a resurgence and return of the terrorist factions.”
In its October 26, 2024, news release, the MNJTF said it “is actively engaged in stabilizing the area, providing genuine protection to civilians, and creating conditions conducive to sustainable peace and development.”
The next day, however, Boko Haram showed it still can muster the strength for large-scale attacks.
On October 27, about 300 Boko Haram fighters stormed a Chadian military base on an island called Barkaram, 5 kilometers from the border with Nigeria. The militants killed at least 40 Soldiers and their commander, seized weapons, and burned vehicles equipped with heavy arms.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby somberly assessed the damage the day after the attack and promised retribution.
“I have decided to launch Operation Haskanite to avenge our [Soldiers],” he said in a government video. “I would like to reassure the Chadian people that we will hunt down these lunatics. We will track them down to their last base.”
Found in the Lake Chad area and in surrounding deserts, Haskanite is a local plant known for its strength and resiliency.
With another large military operation imminent in the Lake Chad region, Hoinathy and Delanga said Chad’s neighbors and the MNJTF should focus on the ways in which Boko Haram militants adapt their tactics and break into smaller groups.
While acknowledging that large, coordinated military efforts can achieve many objectives, the researchers also called for security forces to improve their capacity for monitoring peripheral areas.
“This should include regular operations by combined forces from Lake Chad Basin countries to prevent Boko Haram from redeploying its fighters to these areas. This strategy would preserve the stability achieved in certain localities and avoid pressure from new waves of people who have been forcibly displaced,” the researchers wrote.
Providing more police and government presence in the areas surrounding Lake Chad also would help to counter security threats and build trust with communities. Nonkinetic approaches are needed as well, including humanitarian and economic assistance for those affected by violence.
“Engaging with local communities in these areas will enable intelligence gathering and create a united front against the insurgents,” they wrote. “Existing community development efforts as part of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s regional stabilization strategy should be ramped up, including civil-military actions by the MNJTF.”
The post Shift in Boko Haram Tactics Requires Security Forces to Adapt appeared first on Africa Defense Forum.
ADF STAFF
Months of battlefield losses and hundreds of defections appeared to weaken Boko Haram, but it has not stopped the extremists from continuing to terrorize the Lake Chad Basin.
Experts say that because the group has shown an alarming ability to reorganize and adapt its tactics, security forces must be just as flexible and resilient.
Encompassing parts of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin has proved to be a troublesome theater with its many swamps and islands.
All four countries contribute troops to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that recently concluded Operation Lake Sanity 2, which dismantled several terrorist hideouts.
“The [operation] resulted in the neutralization of numerous Boko Haram terrorist combatants, the successful rescue of several hostages, and the capture of arms and ammunition,” the MNJTF said in a statement on October 26, 2024.
Remadji Hoinathy and Célestin Delanga, researchers with the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, said that security forces must anticipate the terrorist group’s next pivot.
“Operation Lake Sanity has had some success against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin, but the insurgents will soon adapt to the new military tactics,” they wrote in a September 16, 2024, article. “To sustain the gains made, the Multinational Joint Task Force leading the operation must stay ahead of these dynamics.”
After MNJTF operations, militants fled into peripheral areas, where they attacked civilians and increasingly used suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
“The use of vehicle-borne IEDs and those buried in the ground poses a grave risk for security forces and calls for demining operations and technologies like mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles,” the researchers wrote.
“Boko Haram’s use of IEDs and suicide attacks propagates fear and disrupts both community cohesion and military efforts. These tactics must be tackled head-on to prevent a resurgence and return of the terrorist factions.”
In its October 26, 2024, news release, the MNJTF said it “is actively engaged in stabilizing the area, providing genuine protection to civilians, and creating conditions conducive to sustainable peace and development.”
The next day, however, Boko Haram showed it still can muster the strength for large-scale attacks.
On October 27, about 300 Boko Haram fighters stormed a Chadian military base on an island called Barkaram, 5 kilometers from the border with Nigeria. The militants killed at least 40 Soldiers and their commander, seized weapons, and burned vehicles equipped with heavy arms.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby somberly assessed the damage the day after the attack and promised retribution.
“I have decided to launch Operation Haskanite to avenge our [Soldiers],” he said in a government video. “I would like to reassure the Chadian people that we will hunt down these lunatics. We will track them down to their last base.”
Found in the Lake Chad area and in surrounding deserts, Haskanite is a local plant known for its strength and resiliency.
With another large military operation imminent in the Lake Chad region, Hoinathy and Delanga said Chad’s neighbors and the MNJTF should focus on the ways in which Boko Haram militants adapt their tactics and break into smaller groups.
While acknowledging that large, coordinated military efforts can achieve many objectives, the researchers also called for security forces to improve their capacity for monitoring peripheral areas.
“This should include regular operations by combined forces from Lake Chad Basin countries to prevent Boko Haram from redeploying its fighters to these areas. This strategy would preserve the stability achieved in certain localities and avoid pressure from new waves of people who have been forcibly displaced,” the researchers wrote.
Providing more police and government presence in the areas surrounding Lake Chad also would help to counter security threats and build trust with communities. Nonkinetic approaches are needed as well, including humanitarian and economic assistance for those affected by violence.
“Engaging with local communities in these areas will enable intelligence gathering and create a united front against the insurgents,” they wrote. “Existing community development efforts as part of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s regional stabilization strategy should be ramped up, including civil-military actions by the MNJTF.”
The post Shift in Boko Haram Tactics Requires Security Forces to Adapt appeared first on Africa Defense Forum.
No fewer than four unknown gunmen have been neutralized by a crack team of security operatives in Enugu State.
The security squad, comprising the Nigerian Army, the Police, and the DSS personnel, also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from the gunmen while some of them fled into the bush with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
The criminal elements were intercepted in the early hours of Wednesday and overpowered by operatives at Eha Alumona in Nsukka local government area while hatching sinister plans of attacking some parts of the state, including the metropolis.
It was reported that an ESN commander who has been operating from neigbouring states was arrested after hours of intense gun duel between the operatives and the men of the underworld.
According to the sources, the notorious ESN commander who had been on the wanted list led the security operatives to their hideouts where they stashed their arms, charms and other dangerous objects.
Meanwhile, the two security personnel who sustained minor injuries during the exchange of fire are presently receiving treatment and have been confirmed to be in stable conditions.
It would be recalled that the Enugu State governor, Barr. Peter Mbah, had vowed to flush out criminal elements and hoodlums behind insecurity in the state through the ongoing security reforms which included establishment of the Distress Response Squad (DRS), massive investment in the state’s Command and Control Centre, surveillance security system, and modern technology aimed at intercepting and eliminating all forms of security threats.
Those who conspired with the Inspector General of Police to ban Edo State Security and Vigilante Network, for political reasons are now ashamed to tell Nigerians the level of worsening security crisis in Edo State. The ban has exposed that ESSN was more effective than the Nigeria Police in terms of crime control in the State. The reality is that the police are helpless in crime control in the state.
Recall that before the September 21 governorship election, the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun had announced a ban on the activities of the ESSN. The presence of the network has helped reduce crime and criminality since its creation in the state. I appeal to the IGP as a matter of urgent security importance to reinstate a date for the resumption of the suspended local vigilante. The suspension of which was due to the election which is now concluded. Unfortunately, the IGP was fast in responding to the ban of ESSN but slow today to stop the worsening security crisis in Edo State.
The same people who almost ate Governor Obaseki raw for banning the Community Development Association are the same people blaming Obaseki for not declaring war on cultists in Edo. The same people who laid all sorts of allegations against the ESSVN just to get them disbanded are the same people crying that Edo is becoming a blood zone.
Don’t wail much; call on the APC, IGP, and the Edo CP, and those that were sending their men after PDP members before and during Edo 2024 ELECTION, to act on the worsening security situation in Benin city and Edo State.
If Governor Obaseki gives a matching order against those disturbing the peace of the state currently, the same people calling him out for being calm will still be the first to accuse him of not going after cultists.
During the last governorship election, members of the opposition refused to support his party’s candidate. They deployed federal might through the person of IGP and exposed the state to security threats and criminality by the ban imposed on Edo State vigilantes. Now the boys who have been brilliantly engaged in maintaining peace have been carelessly let loose. This contributes to the high level of insecurity in the state.
That is not all, in the Etsako Federal Constituency, they are observing the new trend of Fulani invasion of Etsako land, especially around Agenebode and North Ibie/Okpella axis of Etsako East.I am worried. I am praying for collective and individual actions to stop this ugly situation before it gets out of hand. The recent kidnap of a reverend father this weekend and a call for help by a farmer are just some of the many stories in that area. God help us.
Clearly, the Constitution permits states to establish security outfits to assist in maintaining law and order, provided these outfits complement rather than conflict with federal agencies. The Edo State Vigilante Service was created by the Edo State House of Assembly to address local security challenges.
In order words, the Edo State Vigilante Service was established through legislation passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor. This legislative process is consistent with the constitutional provision allowing states to create their own security frameworks. The creation and operation of such state-level bodies are thus constitutionally sanctioned, provided they operate within the boundaries of the law.
The jurisdiction and operational scope of the ESVS is well structured. It operates within the state’s jurisdiction and aimed at addressing local security issues. The state has the right to create institutions that address specific local needs, which is a constitutional power afforded to it.
Consequently, the role and powers of the IGP, are clearly defined. The IGP, as the head of the Nigeria Police Force, has authority over federal law enforcement activities. However, this authority does not extend to overriding state laws or state-sanctioned security outfits unless such outfits are in direct conflict with federal laws or national security interests.
Instinctively, the limitation on proscription focuses on federal security services. The IGP does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally proscribe a state-sanctioned security outfit like the ESVS. Proscription would typically require legal proceedings and justifications under both state and federal laws. Any such action would need to demonstrate that the outfit’s operations are illegal or detrimental to national security, and it would likely require legislative or judicial intervention rather than unilateral action by the IGP.The balance of powers between federal and state authorities necessitates respect for the jurisdictional boundaries and legislative frameworks established by the Nigerian Constitution.
If Nigerians could recall, the #EndSARS protests in October 2020 resulted in the escape of over 2,000 inmates from prisons across Nigeria, Edo State experienced a sharp increase in criminal activities, including rape, armed robbery, burglary, and theft. This surge was exacerbated by pre-existing crimes in the state such as land grabbing, cultism, and the now-outlawed activities of Community Development Associations. This was compounded by the activities of non-state actors known as ‘Lions and Tigers,’ who are sponsored by politicians and used as political thugs during elections.
Amid the setback, the federal government security agencies, who were already strained, became even more handicapped and were unable to effectively manage the escalating crime and criminality in the state. This led the state government, in collaboration with the security agencies to rethink the security architecture, leading to the establishment of the ESSN, a group of young men and women volunteers, dedicated to supporting the security agencies in tackling crime and criminality in the State.
The ESSN members from across various local communities in the State underwent rigorous training by the Police, the Directorate of State Security, and other security agencies on intelligence gathering, weapon handling, stop-and-search techniques, ambush strategies, among others, and enrolled into the state’s security architecture to serve as an auxiliary force to the pre-existing security system.
The results of this community-based security model have been remarkably positive as the state has not only recorded a tremendous drop in the rate of crime but has today become one of the safest and most secure to live and do business, repositioning it as a model for other subnationals in Africa on how security, economic growth and development can be strengthened using a community-based intelligence gathering network.
Curiously, in the last couple of weeks, amid the build-up to the Edo State Governorship election slated for September 21, there have been consistent efforts by the All Progressives Congress to blackmail and discredit this novel intelligence gathering and security outfit, and falsely pin crimes orchestrated by the APC on the ESSN.
It is therefore crucial that Edo people remain vigilant, refusing to watch the APC destabilise the state’s security. Considering the essential role of the ESSN in maintaining peace and security in the state, the ESSN must be protected and supported, ensuring that their work and sacrifice are not undermined by the political machinations of the APC and their loyalists.
In preparation for the commencement of final respects to the former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the late Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, whose burial is scheduled for November 2, the various security heads in the state have assured the public that there will be adequate security during and after the burial ceremony to enable a hitch-free and successful outcome.
The security chiefs gave the assurance while paying a condolence visit to the family of the late leader of the Igbo socio-cultural organization at his country home in Umuohii Atta, Ikeduru LGA of the state over the weekend.
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye informed that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, in the company of Brigadier General U.A. Lawal, Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, visited the residence of the late Chief Iwuanyanwu to condole with his family and assured them of the readiness of the security agencies to provide effective policing throughout the event.
ASP Okoye stated that the security chiefs expressed their condolences and support to the bereaved family, emphasizing the commitment of security agencies to stand with them and the community throughout the mourning period.
The police spokesperson further informed that heavy security will be deployed at strategic places to maintain order and protect attendees, creating an atmosphere conducive to a dignified farewell, pointing out that the late Iwuanyanwu deserved every effort made by the security agencies in his honor.
During the visit, Prince Ugo Mike Enwerem, the elder brother of Chief Iwuanyanwu’s wife, on behalf of the entire family, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the security chiefs for their support.
Accompanying the security chiefs was Justice Nze, the Local Government Chairman of the Council, who also assured the readiness of the Council to collaborate with the security agencies’ efforts to maintain social decorum.
“The security agencies are committed to working alongside stakeholders and organizers to ensure a peaceful environment for all who gather to honor Chief Iwuanyanwu’s legacy,” the release stated.
Information obtained by our correspondent from the burial local organizing committee revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with two former Presidents, Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will be among the dignitaries attending the burial ceremony.
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