IBN News |Ohimai Esezobor | October 27, 2026
The Owan East Local Government Council has commenced an audit of personnel of the Edo State Security Network deployed across the local government area, alongside plans to introduce training and retraining programmes aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and improving community safety.
The initiative was announced following a meeting between the council management and security personnel on Monday, October 26, as the administration of Executive Chairman Ernest Oyaole Aitalegbe moves to review the workforce, verify personnel qualifications and establish the actual number of operatives available for security duties.
Aitalegbe was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Anthony Ohimai Ikhianvbode, who said the exercise was designed to ensure that personnel deployed to protect residents possessed the appropriate training and qualifications required for their responsibilities.
Ikhianvbode stressed that the administration would not play politics with the lives and property of residents, adding that the council was determined to strengthen the local security structure through proper personnel verification and improved professional standards.
According to him, the audit would establish which operatives had completed recognised training and identify those who require further instruction before undertaking security responsibilities.
He disclosed that personnel who had already received training would undergo retraining where necessary, while those without formal training would be enrolled in new programmes designed to improve their competence and effectiveness.
The exercise is being coordinated by a committee tasked with reviewing personnel records and identifying the training needs of the security workforce.
The council’s move places emphasis on the need for accurate personnel records, verified qualifications and structured capacity development within the local security system. These measures are essential to ensuring that security operations are conducted by adequately prepared personnel and that available resources are deployed effectively.
While local knowledge and intelligence remain valuable assets in community security, the effectiveness of security personnel also depends on discipline, professional training, respect for human rights and effective coordination with recognised security agencies.
The administration said its broader objective was to intensify the operational activities of the security network and improve its capacity to respond to security concerns across Owan East.
For residents, the key expectation is that the audit and proposed training programmes will translate into more effective crime prevention, improved response to security threats and greater protection for lives and property.
The exercise also presents an opportunity for the council to identify gaps in personnel strength, training and operational readiness, providing a clearer basis for planning and improving security delivery across the area.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on the timely implementation of the training programmes, sustained supervision and effective collaboration between the local government, the Edo State Security Network, the police and community stakeholders.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Mary N. Okheime, Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, dated October 26, 2026.
