By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
With some eight people losing their lives to sundry acts of violence robbed as activities of gunmen in a week, as well as billions of naira lost by way of property, the people of South-Eastern Nigeria are, once again, having a hard time.
Also, many high-profile individuals have either been gruesomely beheaded or maimed while over 5, 000 youths were shot dead during clashes with security agencies even as security personnel were not spared with loss.
Observers noted that the South-East has, for weeks, become tensed following the endless killings and other violent clashes by unknown gunmen across the five states of the zone in the guise of enforcing a sit-at-home order allegedly foisted on the people by persons who pushing for the release of the secession-prone leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Last week, eight persons were reported killed and several others wounded during the sit-at-home order by the Simon Ekpa splinter autopilot group of IPoB across the states of the zone.
Two of the victims were said to have been shot in Owerri, four in Enugu, and two in Anambra state respectively.
One of the victims was shot dead at Akwakuma Junction in Owerri, Imo State, while several persons were killed and others injured in Enugu State.
Several markets, shops, and business outlets were under lock and key across communities and local government areas in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and adjoining
Furthermore, countless numbers of young men have either been missing or in detention camps without a trace.
At present, the people live in fear of the unknown as illegal arms are believed to be in the wrong hands in the villages, communities, and towns, as these groups are determined to defend themselves at all times.
Worse still, the governors of the home states have instead of pooling their resources to tackle the challenge headlong, they are torn apart by individual and political party interests and have rather embarked on individual measures to deal with the seemingly intractable security problems.
*Stakeholders count losses, want definite solution
Anambra State governor, Chukwuma Soludo, recently set the tone for an empirical study of the spate of losses that have been troubling the people.
He stated that Anambra loses an estimated N19.6bn during each sit-at-home order in a week, an indication that the five states of the geo-political zone lose about N84.5bn on the average per week, and more or less than N388bn monthly.
That further indicates that the geo-political zone may have lost over N37.248trn in over eight years to acts of violence and work-to-rule, considering the huge commerce, market, and other economic activities going on in the area.
Chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (InterSociety), Emeka Umeagbalasi, lamented that the people were going through untold hardship as a result of the sit-at-home mantra.
He, therefore, tasked the South-East governors to use diplomacy and avoid the use of force in handling that matter which has caused serious tension in the region.
Umeagbalasi suggested that the governors must work collaboratively and meet with President Bola Tinubu to plead for the release of Kanu for peace to return to the region.
He said, “There must be a right approach with a lot of strategies, wisdom, and intelligence and not to order killings by the South-East governors and the security agencies.”
He singled out the Governor of Enugu State whom he said should have done well if he focused his attention on delivering key issues of human and economic security, environment and health as well as politics.
“He can add some groundwork on negotiation and consultation to these and before he knew it some of these things will fizzle out. They say some of these things are happening because Nnamdi Kanu is still being detained, but what are the South-East governors doing, are they sincere?
“Why don’t you reverse yourselves and take the bull by the horn and go to the Presidency to say Mr President please enough is enough, release this man so we can end this insecurity. If this man is released there will be an end to this sit at home and those killings,” he said.
The activities of IPoB and its militia arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) compel the Federal Government to listen to the demand of the people of the South-East by addressing the myriads of political imbalance, which is what has sparked the raging fire in the zone.
The people are asking the authorities in government to listen to the cry of the people for the urgent release of Kanu, who has been languishing in the detention facility of operatives of the Department of State Services, (DSS) after his rendition from Kenya.
Kanu is facing terrorism charges and others in court following charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Security agencies intensify move to stop menace, kill eight in one week, arrest 15 suspects
In their bid to contain the state of mayhem, the Federal Government deployed joint security task forces to deal with the already tense security situation in the affected states
Also, security agencies have been intensifying moves to stop the menace. They killed eight suspects in one week and arrested 15 others.
More worrisome is that social, economic, and business activities within the zone have taken flight following the regular weekly sit-at-home order slammed on the areas by IPoB on residents.
Markets, schools, business premises, and centres are always shut each Monday of the week and every other time as they deem necessary.
The security officers justified their onslaught by maintaining that countless numbers of young men have either been missing or in detention camps, some without a trace.
At present, the people live in fear of the unknown as illegal arms are believed to be in the wrong hands in the villages, communities, and towns as these groups are determined to defend themselves at all times.
However, the Police in Ebonyi State announced the arrest of 15 persons suspected to be involved in the shooting by alleged members of IPoB last Tuesday at the new market and Ishieke axis of the state.
The suspects were trying to enforce the seven days sit-at-home order by IPoB and shot sporadically at residents, preventing many from leaving their homes.
