By Our Correspondent
Determined to maintain its status as the safest state in the country, Cross River State Government yesterday called for collaborations from all stakeholders to support its effort to rid the state of criminal elements.
At a security stakeholders’ in Calabar, attended by captains of industry, traditional rulers, religious organizations and all security commanders in the state led by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, the State Security Adviser, Mr. Jude Ngaji, said the essence of the forum “is to appeal to the public to partner with government in the fight against criminal elements and insecurity.”
According to him, government has expended quite a big chunk of its lean resources to tackle these challenges in order to protect lives and property of the people, adding that it will not relent in its effort at ensuring that utmost peace and security was attained across the state.
“It should be noted that insecurity in our society affects everybody. Government has not relented in its effort in the fight against criminality, which is why structures and facilities have been put in place to confront the challenge.
“Since security is the business of all of us and not government alone, I want to use this opportunity to call on everyone in this hall to join the fight to root out criminals in our midst. Let me specifically mention that the Church has a critical role to play in this fight through their daily sermons to their congregation, while I also call on parents not to relent in their responsibilities in bringing up their children to be good and useful citizens,” he emphasized.
While lauding efforts of security operatives in the state, the Special Adviser maintained: “Let me use this opportunity to commend the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for their untiring efforts to ensure security of lives and property in the state. This effort has yielded some results as there is a remarkable reduction in the crime rate in the state,” and called on members to always say something each time they see something to enhance the effort.
A communiqué issued at the end of the well-attended summit lauded the establishment of the Security Trust Fund by the state government and urged greater synergy between it and the various stakeholders.
The Summit also recommended that traditional rulers be empowered financially to enable them contribute effectively to the peace and security of their domains.
On the proliferation of arms, the forum advised that Security agencies should carry out aggressive joint military operations to recover all illegal arms, adding that peace and security vanguard should be established in each ward of the Local Government Areas to work closely with security agencies to maintain peace in their respective localities.
The 15-point communiqué demanded the setting up of “peace and security committees made up of Traditional Rulers, Hausa/Fulani leaders and host communities to regulate the activities of herdsmen and promote peaceful co-existence between the cattle rarers and farming communities.”
It urged parents to pay more attention to the moral upbringing of their children and wards, while school authorities and care givers should develop and implement strategies to curb the menace of cultism among children and wards.
The communiqué also called on members of the political class to abstain from making inflammatory and divisive statements that are capable of undermining the peace and security of the state while also recommending that the forum be held quarterly in the state with a replica in the 18 Local government areas to promote community participation in security management.
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