By Egbe Attah
Otukpo Zonal Commander of the Benue State Volunteer Guards, Williams Agada, has called on residents in the area to work with the guards to fight crimes.
The Commander, who made the appeal yesterday in an interacting with The Voice in Otukpo noted that effective crime fighting and prevention require collective efforts, adding that there was a need for the people to volunteer useful information to security men.
“I hereby call on residents in the command to work in synergy with us by providing useful information that will aid our work.
“Without collaboration between the people and security agents, no fight against criminals in the society will be effective,” he said.
The Zonal Commander who explained that the job of his men is not to prosecute criminals but arrest and turn them over to the police, pledged not to deviate from that tradition.
He attributed the rise in criminal activities among the youths of the area, especially, kidnapping and vandalism to drug abuse and bad road networks.
“Although, the incidence of armed robbery and cultism in Otukpo zone has been abated, however, the rising wave of kidnapping and vandalism calls for concern.
“The upsurge in the use of illicit drugs among the youths and the deplorable state of our roads are partially responsible for these.
“Having been emboldened by hard drugs, they (the youths) take to a life of crime and also take advantage of the deplorable roads to waylay and kidnap motorists and their passengers.
“We appeal to the government to give attention to our deplorable roads and parents should ensure their children stay away from drug addiction.
“Apart from leading the young ones to a life of crime, drug abuse is the reason for the widespread lunacy in our society,” he maintained.
Commander Agada, commended his men and officers for their gallantry in responding to duties, citing their recent encounter with kidnappers and vandals in Otukpo, Ado and Ogbadibo local governments as a good outing.
The security boss promised to maintain the tempo while appealing to government to continue to provide the enabling environment for the guards to do their work.
