More cries have continued to come as residents of Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State express much fear of going to the farm and their normal businesses as a result of the current rise in criminality recently experienced in the area.
Speaking during a programme interview, Navy Captain Christopher Ibe Osondu (rtd) called on the government to ensure that laws and policies already enacted towards handling the security challenges are enforced. He noted the need to stir up the activities of the home-groomed vigilantes in the area to make sure that the forests are used for the services of the people instead of hide-outs for criminals and their activities.
Further speaking, the Chairman, Isuikwuato Traditional Rulers’ Council, HRH Eze Ihemeje decried the bad state of the roads along Akoli to Akara, Akara to ABSU, Umuobiala to Afor Umuda, and Eluama to Nunya as they have constituted major factors to the rise in insecurity in the area. The traditional ruler further recalled the existence of a peace committee in the area, which has not yielded good results as well as the presence of the Vigilante group who are not equipped.
Eze Ihemeje called on the government and its security agencies to partner with the locals and the traditional rulers as they are the only people that can identify the bad spots in the area.
On their parts, the former President-General, Eluama Development Union, Engr Osondu Onyedimara, and the Vice President-General, Ahaba Imenyi Association, High Chief Nwachukwu Kanu lamented the economic-dwindling and rise in hunger in the area as their women are being raped, people no longer go to the farm for fear of attacks of the herdsmen, and the people no longer move about their normal activities for fear of being kidnapped by the strange people in the area whose profile can only be ascertained by the government.
The stakeholders who showed their support for the establishment of the Isuikwuato Security Trust Fund, highlighted the need for high government presence in the areas of roads and security agencies within Isuikwuato, as well as the involvement of the town unions and local vigilantes.
Additionally, the President-General, Ovim Community League (OCL), Commander Ochiabuto Igbokwe (rtd) noted that what is happening in Isuikwuato is not lack of security in the area but lack of security in the State while calling on the government to lead whatsoever efforts the stakeholders in the area are making through the government’s decisions and agencies.
Consequently, the Chairman, Isuikwuato and Friends Forum, High Chief Ukabi Cyril Okemiri regretted the absence of security personnel in Acha area of Isuikwuato, which has nows turned to be the operational ground for these criminals, noting that the government is not helping matters in the area. He further appealed to the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede to assist the area with some police personnel to get rid of the criminals in that area.
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