ENUGU – (FIC Enugu Report) – In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts on security improvements in the country, the Enugu State Police Command and other security agencies have commenced the training of neighbourhood watch groups in the State to keep them in tune with modern policing techniques and make them more result-oriented.
The report from the Federal Information Centre in Enugu hinted that the programme which lasted for 7-days kicked off on Monday September 16, 2019 and held at the Oji River Local Government Area.
While speaking to journalists who visited the training ground at Oji River, the Deputy Commander of the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch, Ernest Ifeme said that the exercise was at the instance of the Enugu State Government in line with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s drive to ensure adequate and wide-ranging security beef-up across the State.
Ifeme expressed happiness in the initiative, informing the pressmen that the current phase of the training is for the Oji River Council Area, iterating the State was undergoing a 7-day police training to equip them with updated skills on how to function effectively in the protection of lives and property of their respective communities, in partnership with the Police.
“The Police, SSS and Civil Defense Officers are here and we hear that the Army will be here as well on a later date. This training phase covers all the 20 wards in Oji River LGA with 20 neighbourhood men drawn from each ward and totaling 400 of them,” he said.
On his part, the Deputy Training Officer (DTO) of the Police in charge of Oji River, Okonkwo (DSP) told journalists that the training was aimed at inculcating modern policing skills and practices in the trainees. Okonkwo who commended the State Government for the initiative stated that the programme will make the neighbourhood men to function like they do, adding that it will as well help to boost the quality of policing activities in the Oji River Council Area and environs.
He described the progress of the exercise as appreciable so far, so good. He disclosed that from what he saw, the result was going to be fantastic, just as the the greatest advantage of the exercise was that it would improve synergy between the Police and the neighbourhood watchmen.
He also said that the Government cannot be everywhere and the watchmen have been of immense assistance to them. He avowed that without them, he would not be sure that the level of security in the area would be up to the present standard. He espoused that they have been working hand-in-hand to improve security and with programmes like these, the security standard in the State was sure to continue to get better.
According to one of the trainers, Cyril Awah (Inspector) the exercise was at the general drills stage after which the lecture phase would follow. He said that several resource persons had been lined up to take the trainees through that stage. In observing that the men were coping appreciably, he alerted that they were very happy about the training and they were complying impressively. He allayed that they were in good form, have exhibited significant potentials and was certain that the exercise will yield expected result.
Also speaking, the retired DSC of Customs, Emeka Sam Anyalaba described the initiative as commendable and worthy of being copied by the other Southother – Eeast governors. According to Anyalabu, who is the Coordinator of Neighbourhood Watch in Oji South, through such security challenges would be contained in the entire zone. In laying a laid foundation, Ugwuanyi commended the vision and urge other State Governors in the South East and beyond to emulate him.
On the grounds of their performance, the trainees exhibited a lot of energy, eagerness and sense of responsibility as they coped with instructions meted to them. He assured them that after the training, the men would make security management easier, highlighting the needed to keep it afloat and in a steady velocity as with conrinued motivation, they were good to go.
He recalled that in a related development, Governor Ugwuanyi recently acquired 360 security vehicles in furtherance of his firm response to the recent security challenges in the State. While unveiling the vehicles to newsmen at the Government House during the event, the Governor pointed out that they were fully equipped with modern security gadgets, adding that the facilities were part of his administrations decisive move to firm up security throughout the State.
The vehicles included: 100 INNOSON Hillux vans which the governor said would be distributed to the principal federal security agencies as well as 260 Toyota brand space wagons that would be used for Community Policing and Forest Guard operations in line with the recent resolutions of the South East Governors Forum (SEGF).
