A group under the aegis of Socio – Economic Rights and Accountability (SERAP) held a program aimed boosting the efficiency of neighborhood watch on security of lives and property.
Speaking to journalists at Amassoma Town in Southern ljaw Local government area of Bayelsa state, the Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said it was not training, but peer -learning session for the community members of neighborhood in Bayelsa state.
“It is more or less to expose them to what their rights are, their duties and Obligations”
“And you would understand that within this conversation on state police, growing insecurity, it’s a very important conversation”
He explained that they are integral member of the security apparatus of the community, but must also do that within the ambit of the law, so in trying to protect the law they do end up not breaking the law.
According to him, it’s part of SERAP, mandate, that is citizen engagement and citizen education, because they are citizens of Nigeria, and members of the community, so they have been empowered, we fulfilled our mandate”
He disclosed that the program took place simultaneously in Ondewari in Southern ljaw Local government area and next month in Benue state, after then, the programme will scale up to the 36 states of the country.
“So it is taking place in another community in Bayelsa state”
The program was community centred approach to transforming criminality and violence in Niger Delta Region and it held in conjunction with other groups with similar aims and objectives among which are lawyers Dataphyte Foundation, Centre for journalism and innovation to empower vigilante group via training to strengthen safety, build cohesion and reduce crime at the community level.
Various participants expressed delight at the program as it widen their horizon on how to perform their functions in the community, while commending and applauding SERAP, they not only urge other groups for more of the engagements and used the opportunity to appeal for funding by the government and corporate organizations, as the stipends they get do not commensurate with the serviced they render in the community.
