The Chairman of the Enugu State Security Trust Fund (ESSTF), Dr. Ike Chioke, has disclosed that the Fund requires about ₦5 billion annually to effectively sustain security operations across communities in Enugu State.
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Chioke made this known on Thursday in Enugu during a town hall meeting organised to brief residents and stakeholders on the activities, achievements and financial needs of the Fund.
According to him, the annual target is necessary to maintain a community-based security structure across the 260 political wards in the state, noting that effective security management depends not only on equipment but also on the deployment of adequate personnel at the grassroots.
He explained that the Fund plans to deploy at least 20 security personnel in each ward to monitor communities, detect suspicious activities and promptly relay intelligence to relevant security agencies.
“We need to raise at least ₦5 billion every year for the Fund to operate effectively. When you consider the 260 wards in the state and deploy about 20 security personnel in each ward, paying them monthly, the financial implications become evident,” Chioke said.
He emphasised that “boots on the ground” remain critical to combating crime, describing community-driven intelligence gathering as a vital element in preventing criminal activities.
The ESSTF chairman explained that the initiative operates as a public-private partnership, with government providing institutional support while citizens, corporate organisations and other stakeholders contribute financially to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
However, Chioke expressed concern over the slow redemption of pledges made during the Fund’s 2025 fundraising drive.
“About ₦3 billion was pledged during the fundraising exercise, but only around ₦1.3 billion has been redeemed so far. Some individuals publicly announced donations of up to ₦100 million but have yet to fulfil those commitments,” he said.
He therefore called on residents, businesses and members of the diaspora to support the initiative, noting that collective contributions from citizens can significantly enhance security across the state.
Chioke recalled that the Fund, which was inaugurated by Governor Peter Mbah in February 2024, has since established a functional operational framework, including a dedicated website and payment portal to facilitate contributions from individuals and organisations.
He noted that resources realised so far have been used to procure critical security equipment to support operations across the state.
According to him, the equipment includes two surveillance drones fitted with infrared cameras, 10 Hilux patrol vehicles, 40 motorcycles for forest guards, and 400 bulletproof vests and helmets.
Chioke said the deployment of these resources has strengthened ongoing efforts to tackle security threats such as kidnapping and farmer-herder conflicts, adding that available data indicates that incidents of kidnapping and related crimes in Enugu State have declined by more than 80 percent since the current administration assumed office.
Representing Governor Mbah at the meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, commended the board of the Trust Fund for creating a platform that allows citizens to actively contribute to strengthening security in the state.
Onyia said the establishment of the ESSTF forms part of the administration’s broader strategy to build a sustainable security framework anchored on transparency, accountability and collaboration between government and citizens.
He added that the improved security situation in the state has stimulated economic activities and contributed to the significant growth in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in recent years.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, Vincent Onyeabor, said the government remains committed to addressing security challenges across various parts of the state, noting that criminal elements often move across state borders to perpetrate crimes.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, called for greater public visibility of suspects arrested through surveillance drones and other security operations in order to strengthen public confidence in the system.
He also urged the government to involve traditional rulers in the recruitment of forest guards, stressing that community participation remains crucial to sustaining security across the state.