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Why Abia re-engineers Bakassi vigilante says Ikpeazu

By Gordi Udeajah - Umuahia
14 May 2016   |   2:17 am
Abia State Vigilante Service (AVS) also known as Bakassi, is being re-engineered equip the operatives in accordance with the extant law to assist in checking new forms of security ...
Ikpeazu

Ikpeazu

Abia State Vigilante Service (AVS) also known as Bakassi, is being re-engineered equip the operatives in accordance with the extant law to assist in checking new forms of security threats including protecting communities from both internal and external aggression.

According to the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the AVS Operatives/members are undergoing a new training in which their limits and boundaries as a support service to the statutory law enforcement agencies would be educated them.

He said that reviving the outfit now is in reaction to the security issues confronting not only Abia but also the entire country and not specifically for any group.

The governor stated that the AVS has long been in existence in the state but is now being re-engineered in view of emerging demands. ” This clarification has become necessary in view of the insinuations from some mischievous elements that the AVS is being equipped as a local militia to fight herdsmen.

” The security outfit came into existence over sixteen years ago as a reaction to the disturbances of hoodlums in Aba and was later elevated to a vigilante services.

The neighboring states also engaged their services in combating armed robbery when the hoodlums seemed to have overwhelmed the statutory agencies” The governor while explaining further that as an organ of security under the laws of Abia State, the unit has a well articulated chain of command with commanders in various local councils and zones, pointing out that what the Operatives of the service need now is a training in the language of security and skill for intelligence gathering.

According to the governor, the AVS is being invigorated with over 500 men ” because they are needed in the communities to fence off security threats and sniff out crimes and criminals in the communities but there is need for them to know clearly where their power stops and where that of the Police begins”.

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