The Edo State government said it will recruit 3,600 youths to provide local security intelligence and sustain security.
The youths, to be sourced from the 18 local government areas, would be trained by the Nigeria Police Force.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who addressed participants at the 2018 Senior Executive Course 40, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, faulted the country’s centralised security arrangement.
Obaseki said it does not make sense from a political and economic standpoint.
According to him, the country needs a strong federal police system which allows states and local governments to have policing arrangements.
He said: “We cannot understand and articulate our security outside our economic and political contexts, and I believe that should be the starting point.
“If we, as a country, do not begin to restructure, particularly the economic arrangements, and begin to invest a lot more in public growth for the benefit of the country, and if we are unable to begin to achieve a level of economic growth, security will continue to be a major challenge.
“The youths will be trained by the police as we have reached an agreement with its hierarchy to provide the youths with world-class community training to prepare them to discharge their tasks effectively and fight crime.
“A minimum of 20 young men and women will be recruited from each ward where they reside. The government would deploy these youths on intelligence gathering, which will include supplying relevant authorities with needed information required in the fight against crime in the society.”
Leader of the Senior Executive Course, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Muhammad Musa Katsina lauded the governor for the progress in restoring law and order, as well as making the environment conducive for investors.
Source:
The Nation