Tunji Wusu –
To maintain long-term peace and security in the region of the South-East, the House of Representatives has sought the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from what it has referred to as “illegal” confinement.
At its resumed session yesterday, the House made the demand via the Ad-Hoc Committee Ad-Hoc Committee, which is looking into the murder and kidnapping in the Abia State local governments of Isiukwuato and Umunnochi.
Before the meeting with the security agencies entered a closed door, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Obinna Aguocha, stated that the government’s acceptance of the rule of law by releasing Kanu was a magic bullet for peace to return to the region.
We must be ready to address the underlying causes of security concerns as we negotiate their complexity and work to provide long-lasting solutions that would withstand the test of time.
“The government’s recognition of the rule of law, justice, and equitable inclusion of the Southeast zone in Project Nigeria and the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from unlawful detention to ensure lasting peace and security in the entire region are the first steps toward absolute peace, the reduction of crime and criminality, investment in meaningful infrastructure development, ending the unproductive sit-at-home, and improving economic growth and opportunities in the Southeast.
Aguocha bemoaned the incidents of crime, banditry, kidnapping, murder, disputes between communities and religions, and threats against life that have rocked the fundamental foundation of Nigerian cultures.
The congressman declared: “As leaders and stakeholders, it is incumbent upon us to join together, putting aside our differences, in order to create lasting solutions that will thwart these threats and pave the road for a better future.
We acknowledge that fighting insecurity requires a team effort that draws on the knowledge and skills of law enforcement officials, community leaders, decision-makers, academics, and everyday people.
The potential to capture the various viewpoints and channel them into coherent, implementable ideas for peace to return in the difficult areas, he claimed, will be provided by the ongoing interaction between the parliament and security agencies.
“The difficulties of the work ahead are made more complex by the cross-border dynamics of the main emphasis areas. The key focal regions are connected to Ebonyi State via Isiagu, Enugu State via Agwu, Imo State via Okigwe, and Anambra State via Awka by the similar borders that they share with four other states.
“The potential for interstate cooperation exists and must be investigated to encourage regional involvement. Because the problems one state faces have an impact on its neighbors, we need comprehensive plans for resolving them. We may build a stronger front against insecurity and fortify the ties that bind us together by combining our resources, knowledge, and viewpoints.
The efforts of state governments in the Southeast area and the federal government are to be commended, as is their clear dedication to maintaining peace and security there.
In conclusion, he said, “it should be our shared expectation that the following would have been addressed or significantly advanced – clear strategy for inter-agency collaboration; intergovernmental joint task collaboration; community engagement pathway; and determination of implementation milestones, both in the short and long terms.
Hon. Amobi Ogah (LP, Abia), who sponsored the motion that sparked the probe, claimed that the police deployed many roadblocks in the troublesome regions to extort money from law-abiding locals rather than searching the bushes for the criminals.
Ogah claimed that despite numerous prayers and the creation of a combined security task group to search the bushes, nothing had been accomplished. Instead, he added, various roadblocks had been installed, which he found “embarrassing” given that kidnappings are still on the rise.
The legislator stated, “I want it to be known that the amount of check posts in my constituency is embarrassing and they are not really doing anything other than collecting money.
However, the Chairman of the Committee stopped him from saying anything more and asked for a closed-door meeting so that Kenechukwu Onwumelie, the Commissioner of Police for the Abia State Command, could update the panel.
