Innocent Onoh
The Southern Solidarity Alliance (SSA) has decried the worsening state of gory crimes in southern Nigeria, calling on security agencies to be more proactive in their strategies to apprehend those behind the crimes and restore security to the region and the nation at large.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mr. Ndubuisi Okafor, and Chairman, Media Committee, Mr. Ena Ighalo, the group expressed displeasure over the inability of security agencies to track down the murderers of over 16 villagers in Ebonyi State, as well as perpetrators of many other criminal activities and terrorism in various parts of the South.
The SSA suggested that a Southern Security Summit be convened to brainstorm on enhancing security in the region, while also enjoining security agencies to adopt global best practices, including interagency collaboration and artificial intelligence, for success.
The statement reads in part,
” It’s unfathomable that up till now, the terrorists behind the murder of over 16 villagers of Ebonyi State are yet to be arrested and put to trial. They descended on and murdered men and women and today still obviously walk freely, may be they are at present targeting their next victims, who they cowardly usually see in helpless old men and women sleeping in their villages.
” We have also seen images and videos from uncivil wars in Imo State, particularly in the Orsu area, where villagers are lamenting their woes; criminals based in their forests have overrun the land, they kidnap, maim, kill, and even decapitate their slaughtered victims. In one of the viral videos, the head of their victim was severed, while in another, the legs and hands were cut off.
” Yet in another, the lady’s head was cut off, followed by her private part. It’s hard to believe that these perpetrators are part of the 21st century and not barbarians and cannibals of the Stone Age. In that video, they had a mass grave!!! These were executed, recorded, and sent out to circulate on social media without any detection, arrest, or trial.
“Also, in another, a young man pushing his motorcycle was accosted by a quasi-security group. One of those, dropped a bullet on him in his trail, upon which they descended on him. What at first looked like slapping, kicking, flogging, and hitting with guns finally ended with instant gunshot and death.
” In another video, a young man bemoaned the tragedy that had befallen Orsu, his home village, where over five thousand indigenes had been allegedly killed, including his direct siblings.
“To travel on land now has become a journey into the grave unknown. Prince Eniola Ojajuni, the Afenifere youth leader is held in captivity by kidnappers. Reportedly abducted between Ondo and Kogi States. The campaign is on to raise the ransom. Where is safe in the South?
President & C in C of the Armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of the affected States, these are indictments of the security system in place,” the statement notes.
It called on President Ahmed Tinubu and the Southern Governors to “take the issue of security of lives and property very seriously to ensure peace, law, order, and good development in all parts of Southern Nigeria.”
In its recommendations for the restoration of security in southern Nigeria, the SSA says,
“We demand the following:
- Adoption of technology-driven approaches using AI, security cameras, drones, etc, by all the State governments in Southern Nigeria. Enugu State has reportedly successfully done it with its establishment of the command center. Others should emulate it.
- Interagency collaboration, whereby they report directly to the office of the President. It is suspect that there are so many security checkpoints in the South, most particularly the Southeast, yet the entire place has become a dangerous place to live in. So why the checkpoints? It’s also clear that the criminals use phone lines communicating through our networks and they are never intercepted. They use their phones to video and send their atrocities through this same network, yet they freely walk tall. The intelligence gathering competence of the forces is suspect, or what exactly is happening? For greater seriousness and effectiveness, the coordination is better headquartered at the presidency since the country is at war with itself.
- Adoption of rules of engagement by the law enforcement, quasi-enforcement, and security forces in the insecurity-ravaged parts of Southern Nigeria. Enough of jungle justice in our villages!
- Establishment of state police. The constitutional amendment should be consummated and fast-forwarded based on the emergency insecurity situation at hand, which the local policing system would nip in the bud before it could fester.
- Working democracy, which will engender social justice and working institutions, which will eliminate the abuse and brutalization of citizens by those appointed to take care of them.
- Massive emphasis on production by the President and our governors, using various empowerment instruments to engage the youths and stimulate production and the economy. So that there would be no idle hands for the “devil” to use.
- Southern Security Summit has become imperative to brainstorm, strategize, and share ideto to arrest this terrible drift. Governors of the Southern States are here called upon to lead the way”.