The Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun John Obukohwo Nani, has charged security personnel and vigilante groups in Idjerhe Kingdom to intensify efforts to tackle kidnapping and other criminal activities threatening the peace and security of the kingdom.
Nani gave the charge when the Jesse Division of the Nigeria Police Force and the Idjerhe Kingdom Vigilante Group paid him a thank-you visit at his country home in Atiwor, Jesse, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
The visit was to express appreciation to Nani for his support for community security, particularly the provision of operational vehicles to security outfits in Idjerhe Kingdom and the Jesse Police Division.
Responding to the delegation, Nani said the essence of providing support to security agencies and community-based security groups was to strengthen their capacity to protect lives and property.
He urged the vigilantes to translate the support into concrete results by working closely with the police and other relevant security agencies to prevent kidnapping and other criminal activities across the kingdom.
“Security is a collective responsibility. The support we provide is meant to strengthen the capacity of those working to protect our people, but the real measure of success is a safer Idjerhe Kingdom.”
Nani also commended the growing number of youths volunteering to join the vigilante group, saying their willingness to contribute to the security of the kingdom was encouraging.
He, however, challenged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by the people.
“If we can have this number of people as vigilantes, why are we still hearing about kidnapping cases? Please, do everything within the law to eradicate kidnapping from Idjerhe Kingdom.”
The DESOPADEC Chairman further urged the vigilantes to remain disciplined, vigilant and law-abiding, stressing that community security efforts must complement rather than replace the responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force and other statutory security agencies.
Earlier, the Head of the Jesse Vigilante Group, Mr. Ogheakporobo Udubrayefore, said the delegation came to formally appreciate Nani for his consistent support for security initiatives in Idjerhe Kingdom.
Udubrayefore recalled that Nani had supported various security and youth structures with operational vehicles, including the Idjerhe Central Vigilante Group, Jesse Police Division, Ejera, the former youth council structure, Oyonbru Sub-Clan and Boboroku Vigilante Group.
He described Nani as a leader who had consistently demonstrated concern for the security and welfare of the people of Idjerhe Kingdom.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Boboroku Community Development Committee, Mr. Austin Inaya, thanked Nani for his contributions to the development of the kingdom, particularly Boboroku.
Inaya called on other well-meaning sons and daughters of Idjerhe Kingdom to emulate Nani by supporting initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security and development in their communities.
The Jesse Division of the Nigeria Police Force, led by its Divisional Police Officer, CSP Asanaenyi Ibok, was represented by officers during the visit.
The visit ended with the presentation of yams, plantains and bush meat to Nani by the visiting groups as traditional gestures of appreciation.
