A number of 302 security operatives have been recruited in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State to curtail increasing crimes in the area.
This was announced by the Chairman of the council, Mr Chijioke Ezugwu.
Ezugwu said the initiative was to complement the efforts of the state government in checking crimes in the LGA.
THE WHISTLER reports that kidnapping, murder and rape have been recurring in some parts of Uzo-Uwani, making its farming potentialities wane.
The council chairman said 20 neighbourhood security personnel would be drawn from each of the 16 political wards of the council.
He assured that his administration would not spare resources or relent in partnering with the state government and various security agencies to restore the security of lives and property as well as the dignity of the council as the food basket of the state.
In his words, “We cannot pretend that the security challenges, especially kidnapping and attacks on farmers in the past, and the few incidents in recent times have not posed a lot of threats to food production and development of Uzo-Uwani communities.
“We are known for agriculture and that has earned us the name ‘Food basket of the state’. We cannot continue to avoid going to the farms because of the fear of the unknown. We depend mostly on agriculture for survival, and as such we must protect our occupation with every fibre in us.”
He said anyone found wanton would face the full wrath of the law.
Quoting him, “We appeal to the traditional rulers, town unions, religious leaders, parents and guardians to call their young ones to order.”