BENIN CITY-As part of measures to curb crime in Edo State, and to make the Police more efficient, a State Security Fund will soon be set up.

The Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole dropped the hint yesterday when members of the Edo North Peace and Security Forum paid him a visit at the Government House, adding that the private sector will be involved in the task of equipping the police.

According to him, it is getting increasingly obvious that the government alone may not be able to find the resources alone to provide all the logistics that the people need to be more efficient.

“We have given Edo police more than a hundred vehicles, since I came here about fifteen months ago. This is between the state and the local governments and yet the vehicles are not everywhere. They still can do with more vehicles’’, he said.

While commending the Edo North Peace and Security Forum for the initiative, he urged other Senatorial District to emulate this initiative.

The governor said peace and security is a pre-condition for development, adding that whatever government puts in place to fight poverty can only be possible when there is peace.

Oshiomhole said government was worried about the incident of kidnapping, stressing the need for people to have confidence in the Nigeria Police.

He disclosed that the government has approved contracts for the provision of communication gadgets for the Police to facilitate the discharge of their responsibilities.

On Neighbourhood Watch, Oshiomhole said “it is something we will look into across the state and see how we can put it on ground and also ensure that it does not become a tool in the hands of politicians”.