Peace Corps Is Being Repositioned To Tackle Insecurity – Akoh

By our Correspondent

The Peace Corps of Nigeria is being repositioned towards complementing the efforts of the conventional security agencies in tackling incessant invasion of educational institutions and kidnapping of students and staff across the country.

The National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria Dickson Akoh who stated this while addressing newsmen in Abuja said the current systemic criminals assault on the nation’s system if left unchecked threatens educational development in the country.

According to him, the current security situation will not only induce severe psychological trauma and pervasive fear among students but will also discourage parents from sending their Wards to schools and colleges thereby jeopardizing the future of Nigerian Youths.

Dickson Akoh maintained that in view of the escalating insecurity, the organization would deploy a layered security network that integrate grassroots monitoring with early warning systems to detect and mitigate threats before they escalate.

He explained that the Corps would deploy discisplined and specilised officers trained by conventional security agencies to address critical issues such as cultism, drug abuse and unauthorized access establishing a proactive, community driven presence within schools to safeguard lives and property.

According to him, real-time intelligence will be seamlessly and rapidly transmitted to conventional security agencies, creating a vital link that enables a rapid and coordinated response to security threats.

Dickson Akoh therefore appealed to the National Assembly to expedite action on the Peace Corps of Nigeria Bill to strengthen and make its operations to be backed by Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Commandant assured that the Corps’ Nationwide Personnel Revalidation Exercise would enhance the reform being carried out from its headquarters down to local government commands for efficiency and accountability.

” This Revalidation exercise makes the submission of the National Identification Number strictly compulsory for all personnel to eliminate anonymity, prevent identity fraud and provide absolute assurance to state security agencies and the public regarding the integrity of officers.”

“Any officer or member trained between 1998 and 2026 who fails to present themselves for the exercise or fails to provide their valid academic credentials and National Identification Number will forfeit membership and will be purged from the Corps data base.”

He added that the Corps would advance its core value with renewed vigor as a voluntary Youth focused non governmental organization.