Archbishop Odutemu calls for restructuring of Nigeria’s security organs

The Archbishop of Bendel Province of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Dr. Cyril Odutemu has called for an urgent restructuring of the Nigerian security organs to address the incessant killings and displacement of innocent Nigerians by rampaging Fulani herdsmen and bandits.

He appealed that a comprehensive diary of the State of origin of all members of the armed forces and the police of the nation be compiled, saying that such officers and personnel of the police and military be deployed to their state of origin to protect their territory.

Archbishop Odutemu made the call in Ughelli, Delta State while delivering the ‘Bishop’s Charge’ message during the 8 Synod of the Diocese of Ughelli, Anglican Communion.

According to the cleric, “It will be difficult to win the war against the current insurgency in the country with the current security structure in place.

“And it is a known fact that local intelligence security is best done by residents of the area. In many nations of the world, every local area is secured by employed residence who would work selflessly to secure their loved ones.

“This is the best way to address the current menace we are facing in the hands of common criminals who seem to be protected by powers that the military and police cannot confront.”

Speaking further, the Archbishop also berated the Federal government for proposing to construct rail line from the northern part of the country to Niger republic with government funds while failing to site any rail project in the former Midwest region.

“We sincerely commended the federal government for daring to venture into reviving the railway system of the country. We are happy that the trains now move in northern parts of the country to Abuja.

“We, however, wish to plead with government to extend this project to the Midwestern region of the federation which has been so neglected in the scheme of things these days as there is no functional rail line in the region currently.

“Furthermore, we are told that a rail line is about to be constructed from Northern Nigeria to Niger and other parts of the Sahel with our national funds. There is no railway line from Lagos to Port Harcourt. The only rail line from Aladja to Ajaokuta was constructed to move steel products between the two factories.

“The steel company in Aladja, Delta State Nigeria has been moribund and privatized without any consideration that it is the only major federal project in the oil rich Delta State where government makes resources to develop other parts.”