The apex
socio-cultural umbrella body of the Urhobo Nation, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Worldwide, has endorsed the
soon-to-be established Delta State Government’s security outfit, ‘Operation Delta Hawk’ (ODH).
UPU led
by its President-General, Olorogun Moses Taiga, said the establishment of the security outfit would
help to tame the activities ravaging killer herdsmen, kidnapping and other security lapses across
the state.
A statement on Tuesday signed by its National Publicity
Secretary, Hon. Abel Oshevire, commended the Governor Ifeanyi Okowal-led administration for
coming up with the initiative, adding that Urhobo people are strongly behind
him.
The statement said it has been the long-desire of UPU for such
security outfit to be formed as Urhobo communities and her people especially in
Delta State have remained under herdsmen and kidnapping attacks by
arms-wielding hoodlums.
According to it, “The UPU notes with satisfaction that the
security outfit couldn’t have come at a better time than now. It is, indeed, a
most welcome development and a right step by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led
Administration at tackling the alarming cases of insecurity, kidnappings,
killings and other criminal activities in the state, especially herdsmen
attacks that have bedeviled Urhoboland, causing huge losses of lives, property
and livelihoods.
“The
UPU has for long cried out to both the Federal and State Governments to rid
Urhoboland of criminal elements, especially killer herdsmen, who have made life
unbearable for our people, who accommodated them as fellow Nigerians.
“While we await response of the Federal Government, we deem the
proposed crime outfit as an answer to our pleas by the Okowa
Administration. It is our hope and prayer that with the establishment of
Operation Hawk, criminal herdsmen that have laid siege on Urhobo Communities
and other places in Delta State would be flushed out of their evil dens in our
bushes and forests.
“Our communities and forests are very much in need of fresh air
from these monstrous and killer herdsmen, whose activities are a threat to food
security and economy of the Urhobo Nation, and the State at large. We strongly
believe that eradicating kidnapping and other criminal activities in our
society to the barest minimum, will surely restore Investors’ confidence and
accelerate growth and development across the State.”
UPU,
however, appealed to leadership of the various ethnic nationalities in the
state to give their full support to the Government as it works out modalities
for the full operation of the security outfit for safety of all Deltans.
It also further stressed that the state government should ensure
that ‘Operation Delta Hawk’ is above socio-political and partisan
considerations in the structure, personnel, funding and infrastructure of the
proposed Operation Delta Hawk.
“The
Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Worldwide wishes to commend the Delta State
Government on the proposed ‘Operation Delta Hawk’ security outfit by the
administration.
“We
hereby appeal to the State Government to work with the leadership of the
various ethnic nationalities in the State as it works out modalities in the
establishment of the outfit, to ensure the full realisation of the objectives
of scheme. The UPU is willing to offer its input in this regard.
“We
wish to also prevail on the State Government to be above socio-political and
partisan considerations in the structure, personnel, funding, and infrastructure
of the proposed Operation Delta Hawk.
“We
hereby urge the State Government to urgently set into motion the legal
machinery that would give the proposed outfit a legal backing”, the statement
further added.
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