It is no longer news that the much anticipated Delta Security Corp Agency Bill has been passed by the State lawmakers. With the passage of the bill by the Rt. (Hon) Emomotimi Guwor led 8th Assembly, what Deltans are currently yearning for is the signing of the bill into law by the State Governor, Rt. (Hon) Sheriff Oborevwori.
Also, while the signing of the bill by the State Governor is important as that would make it a law that is binding on every resident in the State, the implementation of the law is yet another critical aspect of the bill which, of course, has become another major cause of concern to concerned individuals in the State.
This, no doubting the fact, has become necessary in view of previous bills which have been passed by the State House of Assembly and, also, signed into law but, arguably, lack the needed enforcement/implementation by the various organs charged with such responsibilities.
As Deltans await the signing of the bill-the Delta State Security Corps Agency Bill into law, expectations are high that it should be religiously implemented given its critical import of addressing the growing security challenge in the State.
It is on the strength of this that the State legislators, not resting on their oars, have continued to engage relevant stakeholders on the need to, not only support the bill, but to ensure that it is religiously implemented in the State when eventually signed into law by the State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori.
Only recently, the lead sponsor of the bill and chairman House committee on Peace and Security, Hon Isaac Anwuzia led members of the committee on courtesy visit to relevant stakeholders and security architecture in the State in relation to the bill and its subsequent implementation when signed into law.
Among the key security outfits visited by the committee was the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army as well as the Force Headquarters of the Nigerian Police, Asaba. At the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, senior Military officials headed by Brigadier Moronfolu Shonibare were on ground to receive the Assembly Committee just as senior police officers headed by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda were also on ground to receive the lawmakers.
At each of the commands visited, the message was same; the need to collaborate with the State government and other critical stakeholders in the implementation of the proposed law-The Delta State Security Corps Agency Law which bill had already sailed through all legislative process in the State House of Assembly and, passed.
In his address at each of the places visited, Chairman of the committee and member representing Aniocha South State Constituency in the State Assembly, Hon. Isaac Anwuzia lauded the efforts of security personnel in the State in their fight against criminality and crime commission across the various local government areas of the State noting that their efforts have been yielding the desired results.
He passionately appealed to the security personnel both the Army and the Police to channel same efforts towards addressing the security crisis currently brewing between the Itsekiris and the Urhobos in the Warri area of the State, adding that the appeal had become necessary in order to nip it in the bud and ensure that it does not further degenerate and, truncate the already existing relative peace in the State.
Hon. Anwuzia who was joined on the visit by other members of the committee who included; Hon. Charles Emetulu, Hon. Frank Esenwa, Hon. Emmanuel Sinibe, and Hon. Festus Utuama also, commended the State Governor, Rt. (Hon) Sheriff Oborevwori for his proactive dispositions towards security challenge in the State
He said, “The House Committee on Peace and Security is here this afternoon as part of its oversight function to relate with you on the security situation in the State.
“We wish to express our profound gratitude to you and your officers for the effort made so far in ensuring that there is peace and security in the State.
“It is important to inform you that the Delta State House of Assembly has recently passed the Delta State Community Security Corp Agency Bill, 2025 which provides for the recruitment of vigilante that will assist security agencies in various localities in the state in fighting crime and criminalities.
‘You may also wish to know that the vigilantes will be trained by the police and supervised by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in their various Local Governments.
‘The Local Government Law, 2013 as amended made it compulsory for the Local Government Councils to submit monthly security report, and this has helped the Committee in information and intelligence gathering.
“However, source of funding for the vigilantes as provided by the law is the deduction of 3% of the allocation of Local Government Councils.
“It is our opinion that this bill will provide a centralized vigilante and also curb the excesses of Traditional Rulers who use their own vigilante to oppress and intimidate their subjects.
“From the foregoing, all these are geared toward achieving the MORE Agenda of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Governor of Delta State. It is our hope that with assent to this Bill, issues relating to kidnaping and other crimes will be addressed.
“I want to commend His Excellency, the Governor of the state and the security agencies in resolving the crisis between the Okoloba community in Bomadi Local Government Area and Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, as well as the neutralizing of the kidnappers den in Ogwashi-Uku forest in Aniocha South Local Government Area just to mention but a few.
“In conclusion, I want to also appeal and request you to address the crisis in Warri as it concerns the Itsekiri’s and Urhobo’s ethnic nationalities.” Hon. Anwuzia said.
In their separate remarks, the Brigade Commander, 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Moronfolu Shonibare and Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda at their respective commands, assured the lawmakers of their preparedness in ensuring that Delta remain the most peaceful State in the country.
According to them, the combined efforts of the various security outfits in the State had yielded significant result towards taming the hitherto rising cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal acts across the State.
They maintained that the passage of the State Security Corp Agency Bill and its anticipated signing into law, would be a tremendous boost in alleviating the security challenge in the State as, according to them, the introduction of community vigilante as enshrined in the bill, would complement the efforts of the regular security architecture in the State.
While commending the efforts of the State legislators in the passage of the bill, the duo of Brig. Moronfolu Shonibare and, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda commended the State Governor, Rt. (Hon) Sheriff Oborevwori for what they described as the Governor’s commitment to the security of lives and property of Deltans.
Speaking specifically, Brig, Shonibare said; “This meeting is indeed important to me as it would go a long way in boosting our efforts towards the security situation in the State.
“As security personnel, we are doing a lot to tackle the security issue in the State. I am sure you would have noticed that recently, the issue of kidnapping has reduced significantly, and, I wish to assure you that we will not rest on our oars.
“The only one that is cropping up seriously now is cultism. Again, I want to tell you that we are ready to nip it in the bud. Let me use this medium to send strong warning to those involved in one cult activity or the other to stay away from Delta as we are ready for them” Brig. Shonibare warned
