‘Why police will not be required to vet Rivers’ security outfit recruits’

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has hinted that the police will not be required to vet recruited operatives of the state internal security outfit, Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency.

He has also disclosed that members of the agency are to bear light arms for self-defense subject to the approval of the police. Governor Wike stated this during the inauguration of the board of directors of the agency in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Though the law establishing the agency had stipulated that the police should vet recruited operatives, the governor said the state Executive Council will approach the Rivers State House of Assembly for the amendment of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency law, so that the police will not be required to vet the recruited operatives as is obtainable in Lagos State.

He explained why the police would be precluded from vetting the recruited operatives was because some politicians have approached the police to sabotage the scheme by rejecting operatives recruited by the agency.

Wike said there was no going back on the establishment of the agency because it is central to the security of the state. He then charged the board chaired by Brigadier General Dick Ironabare, to kick-start the process of recruiting quality operatives for the agency.

“Use your experiences and capabilities to ensure that the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency takes off effectively. Start the recruitment process of the operatives.’’

By September 2018, I expect that the training of operatives would have been concluded and the agency fully operational.”The governor told members of the board not to be swayed by the antics of opponents of the establishment of the agency because their duty is vital to the stability of the state. He further enjoined that they recruit only persons that have the interest of the state at heart.

He said contrary to criticisms against the agency, they are only to bear light arms subject to the approval of the police. He said that the light arms to be borne by the agency’s operatives would be for self-defence.

“The Chairman of the Board is a retired Brigadier General, while the Director General is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police. We have appointed credible and experienced retired security chiefs because we want the best for the state. Now that we have prevailing peace in the state, all efforts should be geared towards sustaining it.”

Brigadier General Ironabare assured the government and people of the state that the agency will work to enhance statewide security.He lauded Wike for establishing the security scheme, which is in line with international best practices of securing communities.

The Chairman said that the agency would work within the ambit of the law in the discharge of her duties. He said most of the people opposed to the agency do so because they don’t understand its relevance in modern day security framework.Members of the Board of Directors of the agency are: Chief Casca Ogosu, Mr. Dennis Amachree, Prof. Emenike Wami, Anthony Uzo Ozurumba, Uche Mike Chukwuma (Director General), Mrs. Victoria Chikeka, and Barrister Nma Omereji (Secretary/Legal Adviser).