Akwa Ibom Deploys Security Operatives to Villages to Combat Rising Vandalism

In response to the growing concerns over the increasing cases of vandalism affecting public utilities, the Akwa Ibom State Government has unveiled plans to deploy at least one personnel from the Ibom Watch Security Outfit — a state-funded security agency — to every village in the state. These operatives will work in collaboration with the police to curb the rising threat of vandalism.

Governor Umo Eno made the announcement during a courtesy visit from the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, on Monday. Eno expressed his alarm at the financial burden the vandalism has placed on the state, particularly the theft and destruction of transformers, which has hindered development efforts in rural communities.

“The issue of vandalism, especially targeting public utilities like transformers, is a serious concern,” Eno said. “It has cost the government significant resources to replace these transformers, and it has slowed down rural development.”

To address this, Eno revealed that each village in Akwa Ibom will have at least one security operative assigned to act as a liaison with the Nigeria Police, helping to monitor and report any suspicious activity. This initiative aims to strengthen community policing efforts and provide crucial support to local law enforcement.

The governor also emphasized the strong and ongoing partnership between the state government and security agencies, underscoring their collective commitment to maintaining peace and fighting crime in the state. “The state government has always supported security agencies, and we will continue this collaboration to ensure both peace and development in Akwa Ibom,” Eno assured.

He expressed confidence in the new Commissioner of Police, noting his prior role as Deputy Commissioner of Operations, which has provided him with an in-depth understanding of the local security landscape. “We look forward to working closely with the Nigeria Police to continue serving the people of Akwa Ibom,” Eno added.

In response, Commissioner Azare thanked the governor for his steadfast support of security efforts and reiterated his commitment to working with other agencies to ensure peace and security across the state.