Ogheneruona Tejiri, Warri
There should be a collective involvement to effectively tackle internal security in the country.
This call was made by Chief Boro Opudu, Chairman, Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee in Warri while playing host to students of 2025 Senior Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
Chief Opudu who was represented by Dcn.Ediri Otorie, Assistant Director (Admin)/Head of Administration, Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee said that all hands must be on deck to enhance internal security in communities, local government areas, states and the nation by providing intelligence which is the driver of every operations of security agencies.
The students were led by Brig-Gen. Al-hassan Grema, Director of Coordination, Senior Course 47 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
The theme of the tour was: “Harnessing Grassroot Intelligence for Enhanced Internal Security”.
Chief Opudu who described the theme of the tour as very apt, said that the Committee was constituted by the Delta State Government to help mitigate security challenges in the state.
He emphasised the importance of security in the society, noting that because of the importance the State Government places on security hence the development she constituted the Committee to effectively monitor the nooks and crannies of the State.
Chief Opudu said that Governor. Sheriff Oborevwori in his wisdom decided to constitute the Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee to address the perennial insecurity in the state,
He said that, though, the Committee do not bear arms nor wear uniforms in the course of their duty, but provides useful intelligence to security agencies for possible arrest and prosecution as the case may be.
According to him, “security is a major concern in the society, it is a critical sector that affects everyone, hence the roles of various stakeholders are needed.
“The Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee is made up of community leaders, stakeholders and youths who are familiar with the riverine and land terrain of the state.
“The Committee is expected to send early warning signals to the appropriate security agencies in case of breach to ensure the state’s land and rivers are safe for the populace and investors.
“The Committee is mandated to assist the government in checking activities of miscreants, hoodlums and kidnappers as well as protection of lives and properties in the state.”
The Chairman of the Committee said that the recruitment of informants and composition of the members of the Committee was done from their immediate environment.
Chief Opudu said that the approach makes their operations easier because the people know virtually all the people in their immediate environment.
He concluded that the theme of the tour was a contemporary subject in the nation’s discourse, noting that if well researched, would offer solutions to the emerging security challenges that had usually affected the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) aside lost of lives.
In his response, Brig-Gen. Grema expressed his appreciation to the Committee for receiving them.
Brig-Gen Grema disclosed that participants were on a tour to Delta State Waterways and Land Security Committee to understudy their mode of operations.
According to Brig-Gen. Grema, “I have been in Delta, this Committee has been on for a very long time.
“My advice is that any Commander of the security forces that works in Delta and does not work closely with this Committee will find his work so challenging.
“We have to secure the people and their identity, it’s quite expensive. There is also the challenges of people using their closeness to you to settle scores with their partners
