Some youth in Enugu State have called on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Awgu Community over what they described as security sabotage.
This is coming over the recent increase in criminal activities, kidnappings and killings in the Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
The youth are alleging that the criminal activities are being sponsored by enemies of the state, who are out to distract the government and put Enugu in bad light.
Igbere TV recalls that many criminal activities had taken place in the local government recently, making it a flash point in the Southeastern state.
Hon. Sunday Ude-Okoye, the National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was few days ago kidnapped by suspected hoodlums in the locality.
Hon. Ude was however set free yesterday after spirited intervention by the government and security forces in the state.
Another victim and Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu was similarly killed by suspected hoodlums in the same Awgu local government on August 1.
Four days after Fr. Offu’s murder, the traditional ruler of Agbogugu, HRH Igwe Sunday Orji and his wife, were also kidnapped in the same Awgu local government.
Just last week, Augustine Ude, Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Lands, was kidnapped in Awgu town, though he has since been released by his abductors.
A statement by the Enugu police command, said the permanent secretary’s abductors were forced to release him after the force joined forces with neighbourhood watch groups to apprehend them.
Reacting to the development in a statement sent to Igbere TV, Dr. Edwin Obune, National Coordinator, Enugu Youth Coalition, said a declaration of state of emergency was the way forward.
“It is clear from the nature of attacks that there is a deliberate plot by some selfish elements and individuals to make Awgu appear insecure, and project the state in bad light”, he said.
“What we need now is a state of emergency to be declared on the security situation in Awgu, in order to put an end to the sabotage.
“We want to see immediate, holistic, effective, coordinated action specifically targeting those committing atrocities across Awgu local government”, Obune added.
While commending the recent inauguration of forest guards by the governor, the coalition chairman called on the people of Awgu to be patience with the state government and maintain peace.
Another resident, Justice Ekwo, while supporting the call for a state of emergency in Awgu, said the advice was necessary owing to the increase in criminal activities in the area.
He said anything short of a state of emergency would “turn the locality into a region of criminals and killers, worse than what any other state has ever witnessed before”.
He frowned over the spate of killings, kidnapping and armed robbery attacks in Awgu, describing the development as very unfortunate and should be checkmated.
“It is very clear now that few (people) are out there trying to sabotage efforts of the state government by sponsoring criminal activities in Awgu local government”, he said.
Ekwo also asked Governor Ugwuanyi to “examine those he has given the task of securing the place and get rid of those who have shown themselves to be incapable, and also deal with any one found culpable.”
On his part, Chief Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, enjoined the state government not to be distracted by enemies of progress, but to continue to carry out measures it has put in place to secure lives and property in the state.
He decried “the growing tendency of some detractors of Enugu State Government”, who he said “are out to destabilise the peace and tranquility in Enugu State that earned it the sobriquet of the most peaceful state in the country”.
In a statement sent to Igbere TV, Nwodo called on security agencies to unravel the conspiracy and tendency of hoodlums who are attempting to make the state insecure through incessant kidnappings and killings which hitherto were absent.
He therefore called for thorough investigation into the activities, stating that he will continue to add his voice to the condemnation of the dastardly and inhuman act.
Chief Nwodo commiserated with all those who may have lost their loved ones, while calling for vigilance and precautions among the people to nip these acts in the bud.
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