BY EDNA EMENI
THE reason has emerged why Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori approved the deployment of tactile team along the volatile Abraka-Uronigbe border of Delta and Edo States.
The governor’s decision was informed by the need to prevent criminals from coming into the state to perpetuate their nefarious activities that could jeopardize the peace and security already recorded by his administration in the past two years.
Disclosing this to The Pointer in an exclusive interview, the state’s Police Commissioner, Mr. Olufemi Abaniwonda said that the state government was liaising with local government chairmen to ensure the effectiveness and success of the decision.
The Abraka-Uronigbe border, he said, had been notorious for being an entry and exit route for suspected criminal elements, who come into Delta State from neighbouring states, commit crime and abscond through same route, adding that the governor’s decision to put a stop to it with the initiation of a tactical command was a best preventive security measure in the right direction.
While commending Gov Oborevwori for partnering with the Police in crime- fighting and prevention in the state, the CP noted that ‘’Security is one of the pillars of the MORE Agenda of the Governor without which the state cannot attract the needed investors. As you can see, Asaba is now like a construction site. Look at the roads, hotels and other businesses coming up. It is a testament that the state is safe and secure’’.
For this reason, the CP said Gov Oborevwori deserved to be thanked for being a listening governor. ’’We approached him and suggested that we speak to individuals who are sponsoring unrest, thereby de-marketing the state; and he was supportive of our request’’.
Delta State, under Gov Oborevwori, he said has been nothing but outstanding on security matters, as many of their operations were funded directly by the state government. ‘’The governor has not failed in ensuring the prioritization of security as encapsulated in his MORE Agenda’’, he added.
The Commissioner expressed delight that, compared to other states in the country, Delta is safe and secure. ‘’ That was why the recent past Christmas, New Year and Easter celebrations in the state were peaceful,’ he said.
He also expressed delight that since he came on board as Commissioner, business and social activities have bounced back to Asaba, and other major cities, like Warri, Sapele and Ughelii. ‘’In Asaba and these other cities for instance, when I came to Delta State, most shops and other business premises closed for business as early as 8pm for fear of insecurity, but I’m happy that these shops and business premises close for business far into the night. This, he said, was made possible because of the effective Police, government and community collaboration and intelligence gathering, the commissioner added.
