Machinery has been put in place by the Buguma Council of Chiefs, Traditional Rulers and the Asari-Toru Council Boss, Chief Odiari Princewill to continuously synergize with all relevant security agencies in the state, with the aim of curbing the menace of insecurity across the various communities in Asari-Toru local government area of Rivers State.
One of the stakeholders in the local government area, Chief Paweriso Samuel Horsfall said that the essence of the meeting was to discuss issues bothering on security and well-being of the people in their respective communities within the local government area.
He said that it would be of great importance for the public to synergize and cooperate with all relevant security agencies to form a common formidable frontier against crime and criminality in the area, nothing that members of the public remain cardinal partners in crime fighting.
He thanked the chairman for his proactive approach in security affairs which had brought about relative peace and urged the people to help the security agencies and the chairman by volunteering information that could help in the fight against crime and criminality in the area and also advised on the installation of security lights around every house in the area.
The Amayanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, King Prof. T.J.T. Princewill who was also present at the meeting frowned at how modernity had affected the society negatively.
He called for complete overhaul of the security apparatus to increase the tempo in fighting crime and criminality. He compared in the time past how people in the community used to display love and care for one another.
The monarch gave an illustration of how the church bells used to salvage situation during an emergency period in time past, most especially during fire outbreaks. He wondered if same can be applicable to the youths of today with technology at their disposal.
A former commissioner during the Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s administration, Hon. Awongo Ikalama, in his speech suggested that, for security to be effective, there must be honest approach to issues of security, saying recruitment into the community security should not have anything to do with people of questionable characters.
The chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Chief Odiari Princewill, in his response thanked His Majesty and promised to make use of his advice and all suggestions made by various speakers.
He assured the people of continuous improvement in security and peace in the area and also promised to initiate new ideas in fighting criminality in partnership with the security agencies, chiefs, youths and Community Development Committees. He also announced immediate employment of over 200 youths across the various communities in the local government area to safeguard the lives and property of the people.
