Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has inaugurated the Southern district office of the Homeland Safety and Security Agency (HSSA) in Calabar as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots security and deepen community-based intelligence in the state.
Represented at the ceremony by his Chief of Staff, Chief Emmanuel Ironbar, the governor said the initiative underscores his administration’s commitment to sustaining recent security gains and improving safety at the community level.
He noted that the security situation in the state has improved significantly, stressing that the establishment of the district office will further curb criminal activities and enhance public safety.
“Before now, many residents lived in fear due to insecurity, but today the narrative is changing. This initiative will consolidate the progress made and further enhance community safety,” he said.
Ironbar commended the director (South) of the agency, Chief Michael Nsan, for his leadership and praised the dedication of volunteers supporting the security architecture.
READ ALSO: Police arrest 11 over murder of Bauchi political thug, ‘Soje’
He emphasised that the administration remains focused on strengthening local security frameworks.
He said the Homeland Security structure is designed to serve as the first line of intelligence gathering and response within communities.
He urged personnel to remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and reporting suspicious activities, adding that recruitment into the agency will be transparent.
In his remarks, Nsan disclosed that more than 1,300 volunteers are currently supporting security operations in the Southern district, in collaboration with conventional security agencies.
He revealed that the agency has established multiple intelligence units to enhance surveillance and rapid response, noting that volunteers are undergoing training and screening ahead of formal engagement.
To support operations, the state government has provided 14 motorcycles to facilitate patrols and improve response time, especially in difficult-to-access areas.
The inauguration exercise was conducted simultaneously across the state’s three senatorial districts, with Calabar hosting the Southern district event, while Ikom and Ogoja hosted the Central and Northern districts, respectively.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV
Leave a Reply