Insecurity: Edo to reorganize All organs of Govt security, to launch resident Identity card – Nigerian Observer

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that the state government would make security a priority to secure the state as all arrangements have been concluded to reorganize all organs of government  dealing with security.

The Governor who made the disclosure at the Edo North Security council meeting held in Auchi, the Administrative Headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo disclosed that plans to launch resident identify card for people residing in Edo in order to tackle insecurity in the state.

According to him, all persons residing in Edo would be registered and given an identity card which  would be linked to their BVN for proper identification.

He said that the idea to launch the resident identity card became imperative due to the growing trend of insecurity in the state.

“We are launching Edo State Resident Identity Card for people living in the state and for those who want to stay in Edo.

“Resident of the state must have identity card and the identification card would be linked to their Bank Verification Number (BVN).

“This idea is for us to identify those living in Edo and to be able to deal with the security challenge in the state,” he added.

The government  has also made it compulsory for every local government to at least hold security meeting once in a month and report their activities to the state security council which will be reviewed during the security meeting in the state.

“Government purpose is to protect the people and when any government fails to perform that function it is a failed government

As part of the security measures, he said every vigilante group in the local government areas must now be registered and screened by the police before August 6th with their photograph and phone number while the first and second batches of 500 people would commence training on August 22nd and September 5th respectively at Police barracks Ogida, Benin City.

“We are going to integrate vigilantes into our state security architecture and any vigilante group that is not registered would be disbanded.

Gov Obaseki further directed the local government to register every  Okada rider and Keke operators in the state while they should also commence enumeration of every space operating as market.

The governor disclosed that the state government would soon inaugurate committee for the enforcement of the anti-grazing law, saying that since May 22nd open grazing have been banned in the state.

“This Edo North security council meeting is a follow up to the meeting organized by the Acting Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu while I was on vacation. So this expanded meeting is to let you know what we have done and hear from you,” he said.

Some traditional rulers who spoke at the meeting commended the state government for the initiative for being proactive to security matters.

They appealed to the state government to come up with a welfare package for the local vigilantes and hunters across the state.