Delta state security outfit, Operation Delta Hawk, would commence operation before the end of the year, Gov Ifeanyi Okowa has assured.
Speaking at a meeting with traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state in Asaba, Okowa said that necessary equipment to make the outfit operational had been procured.
According to him, the process of establishing the security outfit took a while adding that the outfit would tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes, including farmers-herders clashes.
“We set up the Operation Delta Hawk which we are hopeful will be operationalized before Christmas. The team has already been selected and trained and we have been able to get men on the ground to participate.
“For them to be able to undertake such programmes, they also need the body armour, the vests which we have gotten recently.
“We are in the process of concluding installation of the communication equipment; the mast is already being provided and by the time we are able to complete the communication equipment installation, then we can truly start.
“The Operation Delta Hawk team will work closely with vigilante groups across the wards and communities and will help to tackle issues relating to kidnapping, farmers-herders clash and violent crimes,” he said.
The governor also briefed the stakeholders on the activities that took place in the state during the #ENDSARS protests and thanked traditional rulers for their role in community development.
He disclosed that a delegation comprising two traditional rulers, one religious leader, two youths and two women from the state would attend a meeting of a Presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari with South-South people on Friday in Port Harcourt.
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He recalled that issues of illegal detention, police brutality and death of youths triggered the recent protests which emanated from Ughelli and Lagos.
“A lot of other issues came up with the protest and we thank God for helping us to control the process.
“The destructions that took place in Asaba were orchestrated by people who infiltrated the state from neighbouring states and from our intelligence reports, we have them in all manner of urban centres in the state.
“Traditional rulers should help us keep vigilance to help us find out who their leaders are. There were lots of destructions in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, and in Edo where they even freed prisoners.
“We arrested one person carrying petrol which meant that he had the intention of burning down the Events Centre.
“One of the learning points from the protests is that there is an urgent need to re-tool the governance process,’’ he said.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of Delta State Traditional Rulers Council and the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, Orodje of Okpe, Orhue 1and the Olu of Warri, Ikenwo 1and other speakers at the meeting, said the time for restructuring was now for the good and overall development of the country.
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