The Nasarawa State Government has expressed its readiness to establish a State Police Force if the country’s constitution allows it, to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in tackling security challenges.
Usman Baba, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Security and Soundry Matters stated this on Monday in Lafia during a ministerial briefing organised by Dr Ibrahim Tanko, Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, to enable government officials to showcase their achievements.
The Commissioner emphasised that Nasarawa State, under Governor Abdullahi Sule, has always given priority to the security of the lives and property of the people of the state since its inception in 2019.
He explained that the government has maintained consistent support of operational vehicles, equipment, accommodation and other logistical support to all the security outfits in the state to ensure they succeed in keeping the state safe.
“Whenever there is any security issue in any part of the state, the governor will keep in touch with the heads of security agencies and will not rest until the problem is tackled.
“So, because the government want to state to be safe to attract investors and ensure peace, we are more than ready to establish the State Police Force when the law allows it,” Baba added.
On the safety of Schools, the Commissioner of Security also disclosed that security personnel are deployed to man all schools in areas considered black spots to protect students and staff from criminal elements.
He further explained that security personnel are also deployed to man major worship centres in the State capital and all the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) on Sundays and Fridays to ensure that adherence to both religious worship God without fear of being attacked or kidnapped.
“We are working seriously with the security agencies and vigilantes, as well as neighbourhood watch, to tackle pockets of kidnapping in Lafia, the state capital, and other areas.
“Best on this new initiative we are talking, very soon by the grace of God, we will make the state hot for kidnappers to operate and those caught will face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
Baba further said that the government has constituted committees in LGAs to handle the security situation in border towns in addition to other initiatives put in place to tackle security challenges in towns bordering other states.
On his part, Tanko, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said that his ministry had created a lot of avenues, including the ministerial briefing, to enlighten, educate and inform the public about the policies, programmes and projects embarked on by the present administration in the state.
He appealed to parents and members of the public not to harbour criminal elements in their houses and areas because security is everybody’s responsibility.
He urged the public to report suspicious persons who are suddenly living above their means and who are engaged in suspicious activities to the security agencies for prompt action.
“The public must support the fight against criminality because everybody is affected in one way or the other hence the need for a collective fight to defeat crime in the state,” the Information Commissioner added.
He also called on the public, especially those from communities where schools and other facilities are provided, to take ownership and ensure their protection against criminals, vandals and saboteurs. (NAN).