Ikpeazu advises FG on adequate funding for security of borders

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has advised the Federal Government to earmark adequate fund towards the policing of the country’s borders.

Ikpeazu, who gave the advice at the Government House, Umuahia when he received members of House of Representative Committee on Army led by the chairman, Rimamnde Shawulu, noted that there was need for the country to step up intelligence about criminals by properly equipping the police and other security agencies.

According to Ikpeazu, the country required a holistic programme on intelligence as a country, maintaining that Nigeria could not make a head way economically except the issue of security was adequately addressed.

He stated that the best way to check crime was to deploy resources in intelligence, as crime was fluid, adding that treating it within the confines of geographical boundaries would be missing the mark.

The Governor was of the view that Nigeria had not done the fundamental things as far as security was concerned and asserted that except the right things were done, deploying CCTV cameras in cities would amount to a useless venture.

He disclosed that Abia was doing its best in tackling crime and would continue to make the state safe for all.

 The Abia chief executive hinted that his administration had started the profiling of communities in order to boost security in the areas.

 Ikpeazu further said that apart from raising 10 able-bodied youths from each autonomous community in the state for community policing, an arbitration committee had been set up to handle issues of Fulani herdsmen.

Earlier, the chairman, House committee on Army, Rimamnde Shawulu who said they were in the state on a fact finding visit to hear from the Governor following a motion raised on the floor of the House on the resurgence of kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state disclosed that they had engaged the state House of Assembly on the matter and would also meet with security chiefs in the state.