Emmanuel
Ulayi|31 August 2017
The
Governor of Cross River State, Professor Senator Ben Ayade recently inaugurated
the Cross River State Homeland Security Service. Governor Ben Ayade,
while receiving the French Consul-General, Laurent Polonceaux, and his
entourage on a courtesy visit in his private residence in Calabar on July 8,
2016 disclosed that the move was necessary due to the serious threats by
cultists and sundry criminals to security of Calabar and its environs. The
setting up of the security body State Homeland Security is a proactive approach
to sustain the peace and security the state is known for. Pursuant to this, the
governor later last year signed the Bill establishing the outfit into
law.
Recruitment
into the service was done in synergy with the Nigeria Police Force. The Service
recruited the best as the least entry requirement is a Higher National Diploma.
The Service is well equipped to enable it carry out its mandate of
complementing the Federal Security Agencies in the state.
Calabar
the capital of Cross River State in the Southern Nigeria is a city that needs
no introduction. An ancient city that is reputed as the first place the British
established a consulate in Nigeria, Calabar is well planned and is known as the
cleanest city in this part of the world. The city is also renowned for peace
and tranquility which combined with the above factors has made it the number
one tourist destination in Nigeria.
But
all the positive image of Calabar was almost shattered last year in an
unprecedented wave of cult violence and other acts of inimical to what the city
is known for. The inauguration was made all the more timely as the annual
Calabar Carnival which draws tourists from all over the world was fast
approaching. Very few people were optimistic that the carnival would be hitch
free.
Apprehension
was rife even as many already concluded that cult war would make the carnival
unsafe. Not only the carnival was a source for concern, precious lives were
being lost by the day while the security forces could not provide any clue to
ending the carnage. Inyang, a 400-level student of the University of
Calabar relived his experience. "I live off campus. I remember the day one
of our lecturers was killed by cultist. The following day I was caught in a gun
battle between rival cult groups. Bullets were flying everywhere. It was only
by the grace of God that I managed to get to safety."
Such
was the state of things in the state until the introduction of the Homeland
Security Service which according to the Governor "Is a complete departure
from what is the tradition. It will, however, include but not limited to issues
like providing intelligence, profiling of visitors coming in and out, doing
neighborhood check, neighborhood watch. It will also assist in furnishing
Police and other security agencies with information on who comes in and out of
the state by providing intelligence data to Police. It will be non-arm
bearing."
The Service did not only proved its mettle by contributing to the peaceful conduct of the carnival last year, it has continued to justify its pay by successfully fulfilling its mandate of assisting the Police in maintaining peace in the state. Cross Riverians now heave sigh of relive as they now sleep with both eyes closed as opposed to what obtained before the service was introduced. Mama T, (not her real name), is a trader in Calabar. She unequivocally asserted that, "it was the effort of the Homeland Security Service that help end the violence in Calabar and its environs". She was also thankful to God for a proactive governor like Professor Ayade. In her own words, "Governor Ayade has proved himself a problem solver. In situations when others would be fidgeting, our governor has always been able to pinpoint the problem and proffer practical solutions".
The
over 3000 youths employed by the service as well as their families are also
thankful for the opportunity to serve and to be gainfully employed as many of
them have been without work for years. This on its own is another good measure
in combating social vices. These are now empowered to go to market and buy
things they could not buy before. Money is circulating in cross River.
Businesses are booming in an atmosphere of peace. There is no apprehension of
security breach in the coming Carnival. All thanks to the Homeland
security Service.
Emmanuel
Ulayi
Writes
from Calabar
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