Iliya Ibn Aliyu, chairman of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government, has inaugurated a Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) to tackle the rising spate of kidnappings, armed robberies, and violent crimes plaguing the locality.
The task force, which comprises personnel from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army (NA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), State Security Service (DSS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Correctional Service, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, NAYES, and registered hunters hoped to chase them away from the area.
The Chairman, in his address, emphasized that security was the foundation of development, and that “without safety, there can be no prosperity. Without order, there can be no progress.”
He said that the bold move to restore peace in the troubled area became necessary, as residents, including investors now live in fear of the activities of criminals.
According to Aliyu, Shola Gbenga, Divisional Police Officer in the area, is the team leader, and mandated to maintain 24/7 surveillance in crime-prone areas, arrest and prosecute criminals and their accomplices, to operate with and ensure professionalism in their conduct.
He charged them to respect human rights and to enhance intelligence-sharing between security agencies and civilians in the area.
The council boss urged residents to break the silence shielding criminals, saying: “If you see something, say something, as according to him, “security is everybody’s business.”
He therefore, warned criminals that their days were numbered, stressing that “your time is up. This task force will hunt you down.”
Aliyu maintained that the unified security approach, was aimed to restore peace and deter criminal elements terrorising its roads and communities.
The chairman then donated a brand-new Sharon vehicle, three motorcycles to the Joint Task Force, and one motorcycle each to the Akun and Agidi Development Areas Police Divisions.
Shola Gbenga, the DPO of Nassarawa Eggon, appreciated the council’s support and assured residents of the task force’s commitment to ending criminal activities in the area.
