- By Halimah Olamide
To secure itself and environment a Catholic Church in Imo State has raised and trained cadets for security.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province Said the move became necessary because of the prevailing security situation in the area, the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Unveiling the outfit at the Obiri Odenigbo Pavilion at Maria Assumpta Owerri, the Catholic Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, said that the establishment of the security outfit was a response to the security situation in the state.
He stated that it became necessary to support the government by complementing the efforts of security agencies in fighting insecurity.
He congratulated the newly trained cadets for their perseverance, commitment, and unwavering spirit, and charged them to always remember the values they were taught in the discharge of their duties.
He noted that their duty is not just securing a job, but a vocation to serve and protect with honor and compassion.
Archbishop Ugorji also commended Governor Uzodimma for his passion for the security of lives and properties in the state, and appealed to the state government to support the security outfit, especially in the areas of mobility, communication gadgets, and other logistics.
Governor Was Represented
In his address, State Governor Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Secretary of the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, commended the Archbishop for establishing the security agency, stating that no meaningful development can take place in an insecure environment.
He recalled that one of the first major public procurements his administration made upon assuming office was the procurement of 100 patrol vehicles equipped with communication gadgets for security agencies to tackle insecurity and crimes in the state.
The governor also emphasised that his administration has never relented in its efforts to support and collaborate with security agencies in the state to ensure the safety of all.
He expressed joy and appreciation for the Archbishop and the entire faithful for not only praying for the government but also supporting the administration by establishing the Security Outfit to complement the efforts of the police and its sister agencies.
Uzodinma used the forum to urge other dioceses and religious bodies to emulate the Archbishop, emphasizing that security is everyone’s responsibility, not just the government’s alone.
“If all of us make time and invest resources in securing our families, we will collectively secure the state,” he said.