Akoko Edo Forum Establishes Secretariat, Berates Rising Cases Of Insecurity

All is now set for the formal take off of the Secretariat of Akoko-Edo Development Association, otherwise known as Akoko Edo Forum, at Igarra, the local government headquarters.

News of this development which was made known at the association’s end of year meeting, indicated that the coordinating office which will commence operations in the month January, had become imperative in view of the group’s growing areas of interventions and advocacy.

The association was said to have been deeply concerned about the rising cases of insecurity in the local government area and the worrisome reports of the involvement of some indigenes in the escalating wave of kidnappings.

Sources close to the meeting revealed that in view of the development, the association has mandated its security committee to liaise with traditional rulers in the communities to canvass greater security for their people, as well as revisit the recent mandate given by the State Government to clear the forests of the local government area of camps of criminal elements.

The association which has set up machinery for greater collaboration between her and the Local Government Council, frowned at the State Government’s recent donation of one motorcycle to the Council to combat crime in the area.

It emphasised the importance of indigenes collaboration through donations in cash and materials for the support of the joint operations of security agencies, vigilantes and hunters who have been mobilised to provide protection for the people.

The association also announced its decision to invite contestants for the various elective offices in the 2023 elections to a townhall meeting at which they will share their plans for the people in the case that they are elected.

Akoko-Edo Forum whose membership cuts across indigenes resident in Nigeria and in the diaspora, came into existence as a response to the developmental trajectory of the local government area.

The LGA, which is said to be the oldest local government in Nigeria, has the unenviable status as one of the least developed amongst the 774 local government areas in the country.

The Forum carries out its interventions through several committees amongst which are the Select Committee (association’s governance), Agriculture and Agribusiness Committee, and the Security Committee, to mention a few.