Ex-Army Chief, experts chart ways to curb insecurity

Firm Seeks Host Communities’ Intervention

Former Director, Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, and some security experts have decried the spate of insecurity in the country and made case for background check and other solutions to tackle the menace.

They spoke at a webinar organised by Background Check International (BCI) themed ‘Curbing Insecurity in Nigeria: The role of Background Check.

Security experts at the event included Chief Operating Officer (COO), Academy Halogen, Dr. Adewale Adeagbo; Managing Director, BCI, Mr. Kola Olugbodi; Founder, Nanny Academy, Mrs. Amara Agbim and President, Neeyamo Inc., United States of America (U.S.A.), Mr. Vivek Khana.

Harping on data harmonisation by security agencies, Olugbodi said that proper checks should be conducted on individuals as the first line of security to address the menace. He advised Nigerians to appreciate the role played by background check in curbing insecurity and violent crimes in the country.

According to Olukolade, background check can provide information about the personnel manning the nation’s security apparatus. Background check, he added, key to obtaining information about individuals’ integrity as well as profiling to verify their records and personalities.

Adeagbo advocated predictive, preventive and responsive strategies to curb insecurity, while Khana said that adequate information about security personnel is important.

Similarly, Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm Company, Graham Hefer, has canvassed a safe environment for multinational companies operating in the country, saying no fewer than 50 members of its host community have been convicted for theft of palm produce worth millions of naira.

Addressing newsmen in Okomu during an enlarged meeting with members of its host communities and security agencies, Hefer appealed to its host communities to protect the company from criminal elements operating in the AT&P Marioghoba axis of its plantation.

He described the protection of its plantation as a task for both the host communities and the firm, noting that no business can succeed amid insecurity.

Hefer said the appeal for a safe working environment became necessary as some host community members raised the alarm claiming that the firm had dug trenches around the community thereby denying them access.

“What we want is a safe environment. Host community members have to protect us, so we can also help them in areas we can,” he said, adding that the firm embarked on the construction of trenches to deter criminal elements from the host community of Marioghoba, popularly called AT&P, from attacking and stealing from its plantation.

He solicited the support of community traditional heads (Odionwere) and the security agencies, pledging to assist them in the area of local security, road construction and provision of amenities to reduce crime.