The resurgence of violent attacks in the South-East region is condemnable and must be quickly halted. Since a certain Simon Ekpa, who lives in Finland, issued a sit-at-home order in the region for five days, there was been tension in the region. There were cases of people, who reportedly violated the sit-at-home directive, being killed. Ekpa has also threatened that there will be no election in the South-East in 2023.
The other day, some hoodlums set ablaze the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo State. A magisyrate’s court in Imo State was also torched. Vehicles and buildings, both private and publuc, have also been destroyed. All these have put unnecessary fear and panic in many citizens. The spate of insecurity in the south east did not start today. Much of last year, there were series of attacks on security personnel in the region.
During the period, some gunmen attacked police stations at Umulowo, Isiala Mbano, Oromo, Ihitte Uboma and Aboh Mbaise in Imo State. They killed some policemen, set ablaze their stations and vehicles and carted away some weapons. In Abia State, the gunmen wreaked havoc in places like Abiriba, Omoba, and Abayi where they killed some policemen, burnt their stations and took away some of their rifles. In Anambra State, there were attacks on security operatives in places like Nanka, Nkpologwu, Omogho, Neni, Ekwulobia, Isuofia and Awkuzu. Some security agents were killed in the attacks and some of their rifles taken away. Some of their patrol vans were also torched.
Apart from security agents, many innocent citizens had been killed in the region. Dr. Chike Akunyili, the spouse of the former Information Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili; Chief Gab Ofoma, the billionaire Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Ofoma Associates Limited, and many others were gunned down for no justifiable reason. The greatest cause of the insecurity is that there are too many arms in the hands of non-state actors in Nigeria. Some of these weapons were snatched from security operatives last year. By the time these hoodlums take illicit drugs, such as the one called ‘mkpuru mmiri’ in local parlance, life means nothing to them anymore.
The continued incarceration of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has not helped matters. His arrest and detention last year prompted the weekly sit-at-home action that has crippled the region. Rising unemployment, poverty and hunger must have contributed to the worrying insecurity. Most of these youths have no jobs to deploy their energies to. Hence, some of them resort to criminal ventures to fend for themselves. All these have seriously affected the socio-economic life of the people. A lot of businesses have been affected. Yuletide is a season many South-East people move in droves to their homestead. Many of them are afraid to travel this season because of the festering insecurity. Like what happened in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, and Syria, gangsters now rule in many places in the zone. We cannot continue to live this way. The South-East leaders, especially the governors, can no longer continue to sit on the fence. So far, they have seemingly disappointed the people they were elected to govern. There is need for unity of purpose among them. We urge the governors to come up with measures to tackle the insecurity in the region. The starting point is to ensure that the sit-at-home menace is tackled. No system develops along this trajectory.
There is need for the governors of thecregion to have a security arrangement that will end the killings in the region. Irrespective of their political differences, the governors should jointly secure the region. They should treat the insecurity in the region as an emergency. Security agencies should rise up to the occasion to end this rule of guns. The Federal Government ought to be involved in securing the South-East region since it controls the security agencies. It should deploy security agents, especially during the Yuletide season, with the mandate to arrest the situation and deal with perpetrators of violent crimes. This will return security in the region and enable people to not only celebrate Christmas with their loved ones but also go about their legitimate businesses thereafter.
Beyond using force, the Federal Government should address the rising poverty and unemployment. If the government provides the key infrastructure like roads and electricity, it will go a long way to ameliorate the sufferings of the people and keep the youths engaged meaningfully. Government should equally address the perceived injustice against the zone.
It is pertinent to note that the insecurity in the South-East has gone beyond partisan politics. All political actors should join hands to salvage the region. Apart from dissociating itself from the criminal activities in the region as it has done in many occasions, the leadership of IPOB should also help to end the violence in the region. The South-East was once rated as the safest region in the country. It is our desire that it returns to that position.