THE Ebonyi Security Council has directed that the State Government’s security outfit, the Neighbourhood Security Watch, be beefed up with vigilance personnel across the state.

Dr Kenneth Ugbala, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. David Umahi on Internal Security, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after an enlarged meeting of the council.

Ugbala said the council directed that 10 members of vigilance groups be enrolled into the neighbourhood watch to boost the number of the outfit’s personnel in each of the 13 local government areas of the state to 20.

“The numbers of neighbourhood watch personnel in all the Discos (areas of coverage) of the urban areas would also be beefed up to ensure that there are no security loopholes in the state.

“The neighbourhood watch will mark its first year anniversary in July and though we would not assess ourselves, we are satisfied with our performance,” he said.

The governor’s aide said that the number of personnel under the security outfit was grossly inadequate, which made it to apply for an increase from the government.

“We only have 10 personnel in all the local government areas and five personnel per Disco which entails that only 80 personnel maintain security in the capital.

“The personnel work on daily basis due to shortage of manpower, instead of the shift procedure they are expected to operate on.

“The recruitment process starts from the communities to my office and ultimately the police; and the Governor has directed that the personnel be adequately trained,” he said. (NAN)

– Jul. 4, 2018 @ 18:05 GMT |