Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, on Saturday, commissioned the Southern District office of the Homeland Safety and Security Agency in Calabar, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots security across the state.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Emmanuel Ironbar, the governor said the initiative reflects his administration’s commitment to consolidating security gains and enhancing community-based intelligence gathering.
“Before now, many could not sleep with their eyes closed due to insecurity, but today, the story has changed. This initiative will further eliminate criminal activities and enhance community safety,” he said.
Ironbar commended the efforts of the Director (South) of the agency, Chief Michael Nsan, as well as the determination of the volunteers, noting that the Otu-led administration is not resting on its oars in strengthening local security across the state.
He explained that the Homeland Security structure is designed to serve as the first point of intelligence and response within communities, urging personnel to remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and reporting suspicious activities. He added that recruitment into the agency would be thorough and community-driven to ensure credibility and efficiency.
In his remarks, Nsan disclosed that over 1,300 volunteers are currently supporting security operations across the Southern District, working in collaboration with conventional security agencies. According to him, their efforts have contributed significantly to the reduction of crime, especially during the last festive season.
He further revealed that the agency operates several strategic intelligence teams, all geared toward improving rapid response and surveillance. He added that volunteers are undergoing training and screening ahead of formal recruitment.
To enhance operational efficiency, the state government has provided 14 motorcycles to support patrol and rapid response, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
The exercise was held simultaneously across the three senatorial districts of the state, with Calabar hosting the Southern District event, while Ikom and Ogoja hosted the Central and Northern Districts respectively.
Kingsley Agim
