Insecurity: Stop the Killings
Imo Business Group Pleads
…Canvasses stakeholders meetings
Worried by high level of insecurity in the South Eastern zone of the country particularly in Imo State which has led to wanton destruction of lives and property in the area, a group; Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI) has appealed to all stakeholders to adopt the path of peaceful resolution to all the contending issues.
The group said that there is the urgent need to put a stop to what can at best be described as act of genocide currently going on in Imo State. It observed that the killings will not in any way advance the course of any legitimate agitations or frustrations as regards the feelings of either real or perceived marginalization, inequality, injustice and lack of inclusion in the Nigerian Project.
The demand for an end to the killings of innocent people in Imo State by IDEI came on the heels of a similar call by the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, His Lordship Anthony Valentine Obinna who charged the Governor of Imo, Senator Hope Uzodinma, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to step up and stop the killings by whoever is responsible for them.
“I equally charge all users and abusers of guns and deadly weapons to stop the killings, to renounce violence and to denounce any show of pride in killing fellow human beings” Archbishop Obinna demanded.
Lamenting the current state of affairs in Imo State where social, political and economic activities have literally come to a halt as the result of the militarization of the area by both state and non state actors, Imo Economic Development Initiative said that it is ”greatly alarmed by the surreal state of insecurity and its devastating effect on the economy of our dear State Imo State”.
As a further demonstration of its sincerity of purpose in helping to find lasting solutions to insecurity in Imo State, the IDEI declared its commitment to facilitating Imo stakeholders meeting as soon as possible where issues of state and national importance would be discussed. The group urged all sides to avoid any actions, inactions, and statements that could further inflame the situation.
“Our Imo State that was a strong brand in hospitality, leisure, entertainment and education has now become a theatre of war and bloodletting. Imo State is losing its soul by the day, our state is haemorrhaging and Imo people are traumatized by this very ugly development” the group said after arising from an emergency meeting held on Monday June 6, 2021.
The Imo Economic Development Initiative (IEDI) which was founded about five years ago and made up of top Imo entrepreneurs, academia other professionals, Imo in DIASPORA and retired security chiefs is an apolitical group which focuses mainly on the development and nurturing of Imo economy by working with successive State Governments and other key Stakeholders. IEDI is chaired by Professor Maurice Iwu while Dr. Vincent Udokwu is the General Secretary.
In an eight point communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting, IDEI unequivocally condemned all attacks on security personnel, security formations and destruction of government facilities, including prisons, police stations and INEC offices.
“We urge the authorities to take all necessary steps to restore security in Imo state as well bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice and restore normalcy.
“We equally condemn any act of disrespect of the fundamental human rights of Imo citizens by security agents, including indiscriminate arrests, unlawful detentions, extrajudicial killings and collective punitive measures”, the communiqué had read in part.
Signed by Chief Jerry Chukwueke who is chairman of the IEDI committee on resolving the insecurity situation in Imo State, the communiqué had encouraged the Imo State Government to stand strong to protect the lives and properties of our people as well take all necessary steps to diffuse the situation and restore normalcy.
“The IEDI, therefore, welcomes and aligns itself with the decision of bishops of all denominations and the religious leaders in Imo under the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in consultation with the Imo State Government to host an all inclusive stakeholders meeting. This will accord representatives of all Imo State stakeholders including senators of the three zones in Imo state past and present , all House of Representatives members from Imo State past and present , all house of assembly members of Imo state house of assembly past and present, traditional rulers, the business community, Town Unions president general, political party leaders, student bodies executives and youth organisations executives, Imo government and security agencies, the opportunity to come together and discuss in order to fashion a way forward and restore peace and normalcy”, the IDEI further stated.
It would be recalled that Archbishop Obinna had last year charged Governor Hope Uzodinma and other Igbo leaders to take steps to protect the people of the state people. The Archbishop had remarked then that the charge was provoked by threats and acts of invasion on peoples’ farmlands by Fulani Herdsmen. “Now our very lives are at stake as killings of Imo People are taking place in broad daylight and at nights by both officially and unofficially armed men. Imo people are on the run from known and unknown gunmen. There is scare in the air and anxiety on the ground. Imo people are hiding, living in fear. Reports of indiscriminate arrests for no clear reason and killings as a show of power or in alleged retaliation continue to spread.
“On Wednesday the 26th, May 2021 I personally went to the Federal Correctional Centre, Owerri, to see the one hundred and six young men arrested from various locations, accused and charged to court jointly for planning to commit “a treasonable felony”. They are yet to be released.
“On Thursday the 3rd, June 2021 I visited the Owerri Federal Medical Centre, Mortuary. As I painfully surveyed the thirty-five corpses stark naked on the bare floor, stealthily dumped there within the last few days, victims of runaway killers, military, police and unknown gunmen, with no identification on them, I thought of many others who have been kidnapped, taken to unknown locations, killed and even butchered, as we continue to hear. Imo is bleeding!
“On behalf of the already killed and even more, on behalf of the living now threatened daily with brutal death, I charge Governor Hope Uzodinma as the Chief Security Officer for Imo People to step up and stop the killings by whoever is responsible for them “Archbishop Obinna had noted in a recent press release issued in Owerri.
