Delta unveils Operation Hawks to tackle herdsmen attacks, insecurity, crimes

• To complement efforts of BRACED Commission
In a bid to tackle incessant herdsmen attacks, insecurity, rising crimes and criminality, the Delta State government has set up Operation Delta Hawks (OPDH) to be coordinated by a security expert.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Chiedu Ebie, who disclosed this in Asaba yesterday, while briefing state house correspondents, said a bill on the OPDH would be sent to the State House of Assembly, as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Mrakpor was perfecting work on the documents.

Stressing that the state government would soon submit the bill to the state lawmakers on the new security outfit, he said government would soon name a coordinator for the organisation.

Ebie also denied claims that the state has lost faith in the recently reinvented Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission’s initiative in Asaba by governors of the South-South region, adding that the major concern now was to stem the rising insecurity in the state.

He pointed out that continuing clashes between herdsmen and their host communities had been under focus since inception of the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, saying the development had informed appointments and strengthening of governance structures.

He commended the people of Delta for their collaboration with the state government in coping with the exigencies of managing the COVID-19 pandemic since it spread to the state.

“The government is aware of the hardship and dislocations the pandemic has brought upon homes and businesses and has continued to reach out to the most vulnerable in order to help them during the trying times.

“We will continue to work with other stakeholders including the Federal Government and Organised Private Sector (OPS) to put measures in place to contain and manage the pandemic as best and as possible as we can,” he added.

Ebie further stressed that rising insecurity informed the creation of the office of Special Adviser to the governor on Peace Building & Conflict Resolution, appointments of northerners and formation of vigilante groups in various communities in the state.