Rights Activist, Umukoro Advocates For Reorientation Of Youths In Tackling Crime In Delta

By Daniel Dafe

A rights activist and the National President of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Youthwing, Worldwide, Comrade Efemena Umukoro, has said that the reorientation of youths in the state is a necessary approach to tackle the rising crime cases in the state.

Comrade Umukoro, a member of the State Community Policing Committee (SCPC) while responding to questions from journalists after the inauguration of SCPC in the state capital, Asaba yesterday, added that instead of the violent approach in curbing crime, the intellectual approach will achieve more.

According to him, when mediocrity is encouraged, crime thrives, saying that the atmosphere in the state must be made unsuitable for crime to occur.

His words: “We will have to start appreciating and patronising hardwork instead of mediocrity because if we don’t, those coming behind will follow the wrong path of laziness and mediocrity.

“We must all vehemently condemn crime publicly. We know the problems of the youths and must endeavour to solve them. We must try to wean those youths committing crime over so that the energy they use in committing crime can be put into noble activities. Some persons that are cultist can even be won over and start fighting crime and criminality with us by joining the anti-cult group.

“Our reorientation programme to the youths should be to make them see that crime is old fashioned and that peace is what we all need because without peace there will be no development and progress.”

He continued: “When I saw the names of the people nominated to be in the SCPC, I was excited because they are persons known to fight crime and criminality. The SCPC will also succeed because the Governor hates crime and he has continually condemned it everywhere he goes.

“As a Sociologist, I know that crime cannot be brought to zero level, but through hardwork and tact, we can reduce it to the barest minimum.

“Community policing is what the people have always earned for. With the SCPC and the State Community Policing Advisory Committee (SCPAC) that were inaugurated yesterday, Governor Okowa has once again shown that he is ready to tackle crime in the state.

“These committees came at the right time because the Nigerian police has been overstretched and they need help and that help is what we will provide even now.”

He commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Abubakar Adamu for the laudable initiative, as well as the Delta State Government and the Commissioner of Police for coming up with the said committees.