Every developed society has its peculiar challenges that come with development either good or bad.
Aguleri community in Anambra state no doubt is counted among the fastest developing communities in Anambra state especially being the home town of the incumbent governor of Anambra state and a neighbouring community to Umueri, the host community of Anambra International passenger and cargo airport.
These perhaps prompted, the traditional ruler of the community Igwe Michael Idigo, to restructure the security architecture of the community to brace for the challenges ahead by organizing Aguleri security summit.
The Okpala square Ivite Aguleri hall, venue of the summit was filled to its capacity as the event witnessed the presence of Ndi Ichie and Ojiana Aguleri, women groups, youths and all the vigilante groups in the community as well as traditional rulers from within and outside Aguleri
Addressing the gathering, Governor Willie Obiano represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Primus Odili said that the first miracle performed by his administration within the first few months of inception was instituting a water tight security in the state which according to him repositioned Anambra in the business world.
Governor Obiano said that all the security challenges being experienced in the community is as a result of the development in and around the community including the international passenger and cargo airport, noting that the summit is apt as it will afford them the opportunity to brainstorm on how to secure their community and indeed all communities in Omabala region against hoodlums.
In his speech, the traditional ruler of Aguleri, Igwe Michael Idigo on whose instance the summit was organized said that security in the community is facing progressive challenges which has resulted in increase in crimes and criminalities brought about by influx of people and businesses in the area, noting that the summit was to provide the action plan that would change the system for better.
The Chairman on the occasion who is the fire boss in the state Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi noted that Governor Obiano integrated actionable intelligence in driving sustainable development of the state, urging the community to first understand their challenges, available resources and security structure and then launch a means of sustaining the security structure they want to reorganize which he said requires a lot of financing.
Lectures were delivered on security by Mr Ikechukwu Aduba and Major General Richard Chioba.
Some security personnel who attended the event including the Divisional Police Officer, Otuocha zone, CSP Godwin Onyebuchi, a representative of Department of State Security Services Mr Michael Otedola and the representative of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps Mrs Elizabeth Ike who represented the state commandant NSCDS Mr Evaristus Obie, acknowledged that members of vigilante in the state have helped the security in the state in no small measure, and advocated recruitment of youths as vigilante members , installation of CCTVs in designated areas and good renumeration for them.
Earlier, the chairman organizing committee of the event, Engineer Marcel Ifejiofor, who is the Commissioner for Works in Anambra state said that with few months to the end of administration of their son, Governor Obiano, with the rise in crime as a result of influx of people and development there is need for them to reorganize the existing security architecture in the community, and the Deputy chairman, of the organizing committee Chief Amaechi Akora, who is the Managing Director Anambra State Waste Management Agency, expressed happiness that the event was a huge success, appreciating Ndi Aguleri for answering their own call towards promotion of peace in their area while the chairman Aguleri Vigilante Committee Mr Anthony Orekyeh described the event as the right step in the right direction.
Ngozi Obileri reports that the summit which has “positioning the Aguleri community” as its theme, featured launching of Aguleri Security Trust Fund.