In a bold step to boost the security of lives and properties in Uzo-Uwani LGA, the Council Chairman, Barr. Chijioke Ezugwu, has commenced the restructuring of neighbourhood watch operations in the LGA, including the recruitment and retraining of 320 operatives.
In an exercise, which started at the council’s headquarters, Umuluokpa, on Tuesday, Ezugwu said that the formation was to complement the effort of the Governor Peter Mbah Administration to the reign in criminal activities that had negatively impacted the good people of Uzo-Uwani, who are mostly farmers, and made it difficult for them to go to their farms and make a living.
The Council Chairman maintained that the exercise would be free of any political interference, as the criteria would be hinged on age and physical fitness of the young men undergoing the screening exercise.
He said that 20 neighbourhood security personnel would be drawn from each of the 16 political wards of the council, assuring that his administration would not spare resources or relent in partnering with the Mbah Administration and the security agencies to restore the security of life and property as well as the dignity of the council as the food basket of the state in line with the vision of the current state administration to eradicate poverty and make the state a premier destination for business, investment, tourism and living.
“We cannot pretend that the security challenges, especially kidnapping and attacks on the farmers in the past and the few incidents in recent times has not posed a lot of threats to food production and development of Uzo-Uwani communities. We are known for agriculture and that has earned us the name ‘Food basket of the state’. We cannot continue to avoid going to the farms because of the fear of the unknown. We depend mostly on agriculture for survival, and as such we must protect our occupation with every fiber in us.
“Today marks a new dawn in the history of Uzo-Uwani, as we plan to roll out 320 neighborhood watch operatives that will be working with other security agencies to protect our people. Anyone caught terrorising our place, sabotaging our effort to enthrone peace in Uzo-Uwani, will face the music, the full wrath of the law. So, we appeal to the traditional rulers, Town Unions, religious leaders, parents and guardians to call their young ones to order,” the council boss warned.
Speaking to the journalists, an indigene of Abbi community, Okoro Afamefuna, said they were assembled to Umulokpa for a thorough screening exercise before the final publication is made.
According to him, no one knows his fate, whether he will make it to the final stage or not, as all the heads of different security agencies in Uzo-Uwani were participating in the conduct of the screening.
“As it stands now, I don’t know my fate. No one here knows his fate because the process is such a strict one devoid of any external interference. They choose you based on your age, physical fitness, and absence of any criminal records. No matter what it may take, my prayer is that those who may emerge at the end of the day will do the job diligently without fear nor favour,” the participant said.
The screening exercise was attended by the Deputy Chairman of Uzo-Uwani, Mrs Vera Ezugwu; Secretary to Uzo-Uwani Lcal Government, Hon. Casmir Ademu; Divisional Police Officer, Adani Division, SP Patrick Anike; the Divisional Police Officer, Nimbo Division, CSP Ogooma Chime; Divisional Police Officer, Akiyi Umulokpa, DSP Eze Friday Ugwu; the Military Commander, Uzo-Uwani, Capt. A. Olukoju and a representative of the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps, Chukwu Moses, among others.
