Akwa – The Police will collaborate with the governments of the South-East zone and Delta to curb armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and other social vices, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has said.
Arase made the pledge on Saturday in Awka at a South-East/Delta state Security Conference 2015 with the theme “Security, Bedrock of Governance.’’
He said that crime syndicates operate in highly organised networks within the area.
He expressed confidence that the conference would identify ways to replicate the successful security concept being employed in other climes.
He called for sustainable regional security framework, joint operation, funding and the political will by the various levels of government within region to make the approach work.
Arase commended Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for organising the conference.
Earlier, in his address, Obiano said Anambra, Delta and others states in the South-East geo-political zone, had been on the throes of violent crime, kidnapping and armed robbery.
He said there was need to forge regional economic front as well as combined counter force against crime, adding that governments in the region were battling a common enemy.
Obiano said the menace had kept the residents in perpetual fear and driven businesses out of the region.
In his remarks, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, said that his state and Anambra were brothers separated by River Niger.
He described security as the “bedrock of good governance’’.
On his part, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, called on investors from the region to come home and create jobs to reduce the prevalent crime in the area.
The conference, which also featured interactive sessions, saw stakeholders baring their minds on ways to combat crime in the zone and in Delta.
Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase
