Sequel to the trend across the country, the Governors of the South-South geopolitical zone have decalred their intention to establish a regional security outfit with immediate effect.

The Governors include those of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, Bayelsa, Douye Diri, Cross River, Ben Ayade, Delta, Ifeanyi Okowa, Edo, Godwin Obaseki, and Rivers, Nyesom Wike.

The decision was arrived at during a meeting of the Governors today at the Government House, Asaba, Delta State, where they discussed the way forward to establish a security outfit to tackle security challenges facing the region.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel disclosed that the Governors met and reached a consensus that the proposed regional security outfit was very important to checkmating the security challenges confronting them in their respective States and to serve as support to the statutory security agencies in the country such as the Nigeria Police and the armed forces.

“We discussed the security of our region and resolved that there is an urgent need to have a regional security outfit for the South-South region.”

He disclosed that the decision was also reached to resuscitate the economic think-tank of the region, known as the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission, to drive coordinated socio-economic and socio-political initiatives that would transform the region.

According to him, the BRACED Commission would work out the necessary modalities for establishment of the security outfit and brief the Governors at their next meeting billed for Government House, Port Harcourt.

“We have directed the Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Edo and Delta (BRACED) Commission, the economic think-tank of our region, to work out the details of the proposed security outfit and brief the governors on the details of the outfit at our next meeting which will be holding in Port Harcourt in May.”

The South-West and Northern Governors have already established their security outfits known as Amotekun and Shege Ka Fasa, respectively. This was following on the vision of the Inspector General of Police to create a support mechanism for the Nigeria Police and other security agencies through community policing.

The Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive further disclosed that the Governors also resolved that all the six Commissioners for Health in the region should swing into action to curtail the spread of deadly lassa fever and checkmate the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the region.

“We also resolved that the six Commissioners of Health from the South-South region should meet to discuss strategies to collectively combat Lassa Fever, as well as the region’s precautionary procedures against the Corona Virus”.