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Akwa Ibom State Government has concluded plans to integrate more than 2,200 village youth presidents into its community-based security framework
The officials are expected to serve as intelligence officers to support law enforcement and strengthen grassroots surveillance across the state.
Governor Umo Eno disclosed this at the weekend while speaking with Government House correspondents on arrival at the Victor Attah International Airport after a two-day official engagement outside the state.
According to the governor, the initiative is aimed at enhancing intelligence gathering and improving the capacity of security agencies to respond proactively to emerging threats amid prevailing security challenges in the country.
“The security situation in the country demands that all state governors become very proactive. The village youth presidents live in the villages and we have over 2,200 villages. They must now come in to become part of the security architecture of the state as we prepare to roll out our state police,” he said.
Eno explained that the youth leaders would be incorporated into the Ibom Community Watch and trained by the Nigeria Police and other security agencies on intelligence gathering and information management.
“They will be our intelligence officers. They will be trained on intelligence gathering by the Nigerian Police and other security agencies before they are formally brought into the system,” he said.
The governor noted that the initiative would not only strengthen security at the grassroots but also create employment opportunities for over 2,200 youths across the state.
“So village youth presidents are now going to serve as intelligence officers in their respective communities, and of course, we are creating jobs. You can be sure that over 2,200 youth presidents will be engaged,” he added.
He lamented incidents of vandalism of public facilities, including primary schools, and said community leaders must be held accountable for developments within their domains.
“Government now hires you. You need to know the number of people in your village and who the visitors are. Criminal activities do not happen overnight and security breaches do not occur overnight,” the governor stated.
On arrival, Eno also inspected ongoing work at the Aviation Village project located within the Victor Attah International Airport complex.
