A non-governmental and human rights organization, Alliances for Africa (AfA), has expressed concern on the heightened insecurity situation and crime rate in Imo state.
This comes on the background of series of recent killings of defenceless Imo citizens, among the incidence was the recent killing of seven defenceless Imo citizens who were returning to Otulu in Oru east local government of the state by suspected operatives of local security outfit, Ebubeagu security in July.
Worried by the ugly scenario, the Alliances for Africa, in a release issued on Wednesday, lamented that no day passes without a gory story of killings or kidnappings as the problem has remained unabated and spiralled out of control.
According to the group, “one begins to wonder when the once peaceful Imo, arrived at such horrible situation where no one is safe. All parts of the country currently experiencing various forms of violent crime or the other.
“Southwest Nigeria is plagued by a surge in cybercrime, armed robbery, kidnapping, domestic crime, extra-judicial killings, herder-farmer conflicts, ritual killings and banditry.
“The southeast has become a haven for ritual killings, commercial crime, successionist agitation, kidnapping, herder-farmer clashes, attacks by unknown gunmen and banditry.
“The south-south remains threatened by militancy, kidnapping, and environmental agitation for access to resources,”he added.
The peace and sustainable organization, regretted that government has lost the political will to address the high insecurity in the country and at state level, as he lamented that Nigeria is currently under “siege”, adding that the ugly scenario has led to several loss of properties.
It said, “following a feature report by the Guardian newspaper, January 16, 2022, no fewer than five traditional rulers have killed, scores abducted, ransom paid and freed.
“There have been increased attack on innocent citizens by unknown gunmen during voter’s registration at Ihitte-Uboma, many unnumbered andu documented killings in Orlu and untill recently, rhe otulu masscre and killing of Kelechi Ogbonna (25) at Oguta by suspected Ebubeagu security operatives.
“The Okigwe axis of the state is notable for high profile kidnappings. The worsening situation has left much to be desired of the government’s claim of investing 30 billion to combat insecurity. This situation has forcefully created more widows and increased the terrible situation of women and girls in the state”, the NGO also added.
The human rights body, reiterated her condemnation on the senseless and provocative killings in Imo, and further charged Governor Hope Uzodinma-led state government on the political will to end these lingering insecurity issues as the Chief Security Officer of the state, and expressed disenchantment that Uzodinma led administration has continued to treat the security challenges lightly rather than profering strategic and critical solutions to end the epidemic ravaging the state.
The AfA, therefore, called on the Imo state government to give adequate attention to the poor state of security in the state; and also adequately support the police to identify sponsors of terrorism in the state.
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“We call on the state government to focus on a hands-on-deck approach involving security agencies, traditional institutions and stakeholders to enforce community policing; carry out strategic investigations on the extrajudicial killings and to ensure that justice is duly served and proper compensation for grieving families, and as well as invest in human and Infrastructural development to distract youths from vices”, the feminist group submitted.
Source: Thepressradio.com | Ghana|Chijindu Emeruwa
