Okowa initiatives have reduced crime and criminality to the barest level in Delta State – Obarume

Hon. Sylva Abraham Obarume, Director of operations, Delta State Committee on Security (land) in an exclusive interview with ‘Revolution Times’ in Warri couple of days ago, speaks on its activities, impacts, and challenges. Cattle herdsmen scourge in criminality poses a big challenge to security in the State as confronting them is like chasing a ghost, Obarume says.
Praising Governor Okowa to high heavens for impactive performance and charismatic qualities, he expressed optimism that Deltans will in 2019 overwhelmingly endorse his return as governor of the State.
In reaction to a question, he asserts; members of the land security committee headed by Austen Opubor are normal people who have been able to evolve a unique strategy to crime combating, one of which is intelligence gathering. Hence in its collaboration with the armed security operatives, the desired results have always been achieved.
Excerpts…

Appraisal of security situation in Delta State at the time you assumed office
I assumed office on my appointment in December 2016. As at that time, a lot of criminal activities were going on in the State. To begin, I impressed it upon the State Government that the Police alone cannot get the desired result combating crime, and ensure security.

Hence the only way to go was all inclusiveness; engaging everyone in other words, community policing to compliment the traditional security apparatus of government.

As at year 2016, insecurity was at its climax especially the scourge of kidnapping which was so rampant across the State. In a day kidnapping could be recorded at least in five different points.

It was in the face of this ugly situation that the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, through Hon. Michael Dide appointed me to join the security committee as director of operations.

I want to assert here that we have since been doing our best possible by embarking on campaign to the grassroots that there is need to give peace a chance by staying away from crime.

This is based on the fact that where there is no peace, and security, definitely there will be no meaningful development as it causes the government distraction from its planned programmes for the people and the State.

But to God be the glory, right now, the spate of all manners of security threats have been reduced to the barest level and the Governor Dr. Okowa has acknowledged this.

The campaign has been; the Okowa led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration has assured that everyone will be cared for, that nobody is expected to do crime to survive.

To achieving the set goal, the administration availed the youths several skill acquisition programmes to occupy them.

Hence to aid efforts of government, the security committee goes to the grassroots across the State like a political campaign to make the message of abstaining from crime sinks to ensuring security reigns and the much desired development is achieved.

For this, the Governor has given compliments to the security committee for a job well done.

Special strategy deplored:
Though it has not been quite easy, but we liaise with the police when there is kidnap in effort to rescuing the victim.
It might interest you to know that plenty a time we have been able to talk the kidnappers to releasing victims without paying any ransom.
In doing this, we give them the assurance that if they drop their arms they will be absolved by government and the Okowa administration have actually not disappointed. Through the various skill acquisition programmes, these people have been rehabilitated.

Trust built:
Government through its intervention programmes has been able to build much trust between it and those who hitherto makes the State insecure, their mentality about crime as the only way to earning a living is being positively changed.

Special experience:
For me every encounter since 2016 is special experience as it is not really easy confronting hoodlums. All the encounters have been terrible experience

Challenges:
Logistics to ease movement of the committee especially during emergency and distress calls is a challenge. The committee members use their personal vehicles because of paucity of fund. Sometimes we go into the bush and forest on a rescue mission using our own vehicles which actually are not meant for that purpose instead of patrol vans, hilux trucks for instance.

Cattle Herdsmen challenge:
We have never succeeded handling these group of criminal elements because their ways are like that of the devil. I do not even know how to describe these people; they walk in the bush like it is their palour and trying to chase them, is like chasing a ghost. Truly theirs have proven really difficult to tackle.
Cattle herdsmen scourge is no doubt posing big challenge to the security network in Delta State like other parts of the country.

Extra effort to tackling herdsmen scourge:
The Okowa administration has doubled its effort through the various security apparatus to reduce the menace to its barest level. Government has constituted Special committees in cattle herdsmen settlements with one of them as head. This is deliberate action of government in case of any crime suspected to have been carried out by herdsmen, it will be easy to trace the Perpetarators.

Chances of return of PDP in 2019:
In the face of scarcity of funds the Okowa led PDP administration in Delta State has worked so much. For example, in the Udu Council area, PDP has always find it difficult to win. It has always been APC, or Labour party winning. Hence the past administration refused to work for them but for this Okowa of a governor, he is like God sent to the State; he has tarred more than 20 roads in Udu, renovated schools among other projects. So now, everyone across political party lines are rooting for him. He knows how to please people, he consults unlike previous governors. He is so humble, and different. Okowa possesses a lot of charisma that makes Deltans rally round him. In other parts of the State, he has also done very well especially in the area of road construction, rehabilitation, and building of drainages. Here, we call him the ‘Road Master’. We truly want him to return so that he can continue his good works of development. I do not see any candidate from another party that can equal Okowa; he is a man with a big heart of gold, if it is possible,one would say he should go for third term. He is not pompous like some past governors in the State. Okowa is a perspective, impeccable governor with a pedigree. He is much loved by Deltans so I do not think it will be possible for the people to cast their vote for another candidate