The Cross River State Government has commenced massive recruitment of personnel into its Homeland Security.

According to a statement issued in Calabar by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Governor Ben Ayade, said the recruitment exercise is being done in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force.

The Cross River State Homeland Security was recently established after Governor Ayade signed into law, a bill passed by the State House of Assembly for its establishment.

The recruitment into the security outfit is coming at a time when preparations for the 2016 Carnival Calabar are in top gear.

To be eligible for enlistment into the outfit, an applicant must be at least 6ft tall and a holder of a university degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), the statement added.

It is expected that at least 3,000 young persons would be enlisted into the outfit. A non-arm bearing organisation, the key function of the Cross River State Homeland Security is information gathering, which is expected to ensure a more effective policing of the state by the Police.

Governor Ayade had recently described the Cross River State Homeland Security as a complete departure from what is the tradition.

He said: “It will include but not limited to issues like providing intelligence, profiling of visitors coming in and out, doing neighborhood check, neighborhood watch. It will also assist in furnishing Police and other security agencies with information on who comes in and out of the state by providing intelligence data to Police. It will be no-arm bearing.”

The state has purchased hundreds of cars fitted state-of-the art communication gadgets in preparation for its official inauguration. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Governor Ayade.

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