BY ANKELI EMMANUEL,Sokoto
The Association of Resident Communities in Sokoto (ARCOS) has inuagurated a 12 member security committee task with the responsibility of gathering intelligence in assisting the maintenance of the peace and security enjoyed in the State.
Addressing members of the association before inuagurating the security committee, ARCOS chairman, Mr Olumunmi said the committee has become neccessary to help stem the tides of fake news, rumours and misleading security related narratives mostly on social media spaces capable of creating chaos.
Giving background on why the security committee was set up, the intelligently vibrant and outspoken chairman, Olugbemi, said it was berthed after a meeting with one of the security agencies in Sokoto who advised that, they should do that as a way of contributing to a peaceful atmosphere for all.
Olugbemi, who hails from Isonlu in Yagba East local government area of Kogi state, and chiarman of ARCOS said, “”Going by the security challenges faced by Nigerians, in one of our recent engaments with a head of security agency in the state, he wanted to share something with us and asked if we did have a security committee which we responded with a “no”.
“”He then advised us to set up a security committee for easy sharing of intels, and clarification of misinformation, malinformation, disinformation, fake news and deep fakes which was the reason for setting up this committee today””.
The 12 member security committee is to be chaired by Master Warrant Officer ( MWO)Abubakar Godobe from Adamawa, with Ankeli Emmanuel from Benue as Secretary. Other
members include, Staff Sageant Gbadamosi Abdulazeez, (Oyo) Musa Idris Ajodo (Kogi), Comrade Bello Nuhu Ebira (Kogi), Prince J.P Iredia (Edo), Rose Sheyi SOKAPU (Kaduna), Bege Sunday SOKAPU, (Kaduna), Dr Caroline Okafor (Delta), Barrister Busari Mudasiru (Ondo), Dr Moses Elllah (Cross Rivers) and Elder Ishaku Yari Gadzama (Adamawa).
While noting that members of the security committee are people of proven integrity, Olugbemi said, any member of ARCOS who comes across security related information should be able communicate same to the committee for all neccessary checks with relevant authorities before posting to the associations’ platform.
In his appeal to the 26 regisered resident communities of ARCOS, the chairman, Mr Olugbemi Dare Samuel, said, “”They should remember that home is far from here. And the fact that fate and destiny has brought us to be in Sokoto, we must do everything possible to ensure that peace being enjoyed in the state is sustained.
“”And when issues comes up that you cannot control, do not take laws into your hands. Report to your community leaders. It it goes beyond them,it will not go beyond your state association and if it goes beyond them, it will by God’s grace not be beyond ARCOS as we ensure that grievances and demands are met within the ambits of the law””. ARCOS chairman assured.