We’re devising new state-led security scheme to curb insecurity, safeguard Edo people – Obaseki

… says Nigeria ripe for restructuring over flawed central policing system

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reassured that his administration is devising a new state-led security scheme to tackle rising insecurity in an effort to safeguard lives and property in Edo State.

The governor said this has become inevitable in the light of the flawed central policing system in the country, which makes the demand for restructuring of the nation more germane.

Obaseki, who said this during a thanksgiving service to commemorate his inauguration for a second term in office, charged religious bodies, communities and other stakeholders to join hands with the government to ensure the success of the state’s community policing initiative so as to ensure safety in communities.

“We must now adopt new security plans in our religious centres, schools and communities. We, as a state, will be investing in our intelligence gathering system. We know that citizens may not trust the information they give out to some agencies. But we are putting up a system where we will make you trust us when you give us information. We will make sure that the information is acted upon. We have completed a design of our own correctional facility and will start building it.”

“We are going to try to reduce our lamentations and do things for ourselves and that way, we would have started the process of restructuring the country,” the governor said.

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“We still haven’t seen the full consequence of what we have experienced so far this year. With the report we are getting, COVID-19 is back again. We have to do our best, but we won’t be able to lockdown again; we must obey the rules of our taskforce.”

The governor continued: “We must restructure the country. There is no doubt about that. But we must start it from home, which is our local government. That is the first point that citizens have contact with the government.

“There is nobody who is more concerned about the current security situation in our state than I am. When I saw that we were not making progress in getting back the escaped inmates, I went to obtain their names from the Controller General of the National Correctional Service.

“The point I am trying to make is that we are concerned as a government. I called the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and told him that I was worried that his men were being killed.”