NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
The leadership of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State says steps are being taken to wipe away the threats to peace, law and order in the locality. Part of the strategies taken include the constitution of a security task force to wade off criminal elements currently troubling the area. The chairman of the Local Government Council, Hon. Safiyanu Isa Andaha made this disclosure during a telephone chat with reporters on Tuesday.
Andaha said the task force and other actions taken are not only pertinent to curtail the security breaches but also in adherence to the resolutions of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, NSHA. The legislative arm which has oversight over the councils, had mandated council bosses across the state to find ways of stemming the tide of insecurity in their various jurisdictions.
The House directed the chairmen of the thirteen Local councils to partner with the traditional rulers and security agencies to hold security summits in their jurisdictions within two weeks of the resolution, to find ways of tackling the insecurity bedevilling their areas. “All Local Government Area Chairmen should collaborate with traditional rulers and security agencies in their domains to summon a security summit within two weeks to find lasting solutions to the issue of kidnapping and other security challenges in the state,” the House had resolved at plenary.
Last Friday for instance, the Igbo traders in the area threatened to shut down their business premises following attacks by some unknown gun-bearing men. This came on the heels of the resolution by the House. Other instances of robberies, kidnapping and banditry have been recorded.
The Akwanga Council Chairman noted that in respect of the House resolution, he has held a meeting with all heads of security agencies in Akwanga LGA, traditional rulers, the Igbo community and other important stakeholders, with the sole objective of finding a solution to the frequent security breaches that occur in the area. “We have acted accordingly, we had a joint security meeting with traditional rulers, stakeholders and all the heads of security agencies in the locality, to finetune our security tactics to track and crackdown those terrorising people in Akwanga town and environs,” he said.
Andaha who stressed the point that security should be everyone’s business, noted that the measures put in place will soon yield positive fruits. “I want to assure the people of Akwanga that they will soon see the result of our underground work and that will enable them to go about their normal businesses and sleep with their eyes closed,” he assured.