By Ijendu Iheaka
Abia Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on Wednesday handed over about 13 Hilux vans to security agencies in the state to boost their operations and strengthen security in Abia.
Ikpeazu, speaking with representatives of the agencies said the gesture was aimed at increasing the capacity of the security agencies and beefing up the state’s security.
“We know it will not go round all the security agencies in the state, but we have taken note of others who may not get today but in a very short time, it will reach those ones.
“Our distribution of these vehicles is meant to make Abia a safe haven where people can sleep with their eyes closed.
“We don’t take for granted the untiring efforts of these agencies and the synergy between them which has continued to make Abia the safest state in the South East and Nigeria in general.
“We want to say that this step taken today is to encourage them to deepen their efforts in securing all the boundaries and the interiors of Abia.
“And to continue to go after those hoodlums who have continued to make our country and various places unsafe.
We believe that this type of effort will make the security agencies in Abia state to double their steps and to spur them to advance their efforts in keeping Abia safe as they chase the criminals out of the state.
“We want to state that the government will continue to provide the enabling environment in material terms and resources to enable them function and deliver on their mandate of securing Nigeria and this state as well as overcoming the current challenge that has continued to bedevil us.
“Today, the Police will receive 6 vehicles, the Army will receive 3, Navy 1, DSS 1, Correctional Services 1 to enable them continue to convey inmates to various courts where their matter is supposed to be heard.
“This will continue and we will do more as we progress so that the logistics needs of these agencies will be met”, he said.
DSP Lambert Ekwekwe in charge of transportation at the Abia Police Command, Umuahia thanked the government for giving them the vehicles to make their jobs more effective.
He promised on behalf of the Abia Commissioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede, that the vehicles will be utilized very well for the purposes they were meant to serve.
He also said that the Police would ensure that the vehicles would be maintained for better use.
Ekwekwe urged Abia residents to always volunteer information to the police and other security agencies to boost their effectiveness stressing that without information they cannot do much.
