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Against the backdrop of a spike in insecurity in Abia State; the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD) has called for an overhaul of the security architecture in the state, increased surveillance, improved community policing and homeland security.
In a release made available to our correspondent in Umuahia, Abia State, Executive Director, FENRAD, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, lamented that “In the space of three days, a series of coordinated attacks by armed gunmen in Abia State has taken the lives of security personnel while hampering businesses.
“These wanton attacks have not let up since the third quarter of 2023. The latest within one week were: the killing of some soldiers in an ambush along Owerri-Umuahia expressway by gunmen alleged to be members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN, the armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and, just recently, the attack on the convoy of Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, member Federal House of Representatives, during which a policeman in his convoy lost his life, marking a new trend in the security landscape of the state – attack on a politically exposed person (PEP).”
He said FENRAD condemns this “in its entirety and regrets the death of those who lost their lives – security personnel – and those who lost their money in the affected areas – business owners. These are menacing times for the state.
“However, a little more concerning is a statement released by the state government media team, through Ferdinand Ekeoma, which says that tip-offs from Abians and intelligence sources show that some politicians have resorted to security breaches in the state to discredit the state government’s efforts at development after “lies and fabrications” came to naught.”
Comrade Nwafor agreed that insecurity or security could be politicised “by unprincipled political agents for mostly selfish or pecuniary benefits,” adding that Nigeria, “where allegedly, there exist war profiteers, is not without her examples.”
He said FENRAD “therefore calls on the state government to, in the interest of peace, welfare, security and lives of Ndi Abia and visitors, go after all the people named in the said intelligence. What their motivations are, their ideology is or whatever their goals must be discovered. The Foundation equally thinks that not doing this would mean reducing the tip-offs from Abians to a mere snipe hunt while equally making the resources spent on intelligence gathering a sheer waste. Reading criminally minded persons the riot act is not enough when prosecuting them could be a deterrent to others.
“While still condemning the killings and sympathising with the Police and Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, the Foundation urges the state to overhaul the security architecture of the state as was done in Lokpanta a year ago. When the governor was sworn in newly, Lokpanta-Okigwe corridor was an axis of evil, but the governor acted decisively and calm returned in those communities who now enjoy relative peace. Better can be achieved.
“By overhauling the security landscape of Abia the Foundation envisions a security operation whose model begins from the macro level (involving institutions and paraphernalia of state security) to the micro level (involving the most local units: communities and the people) and back. The federal (security/intelligence) agencies must be able to secure the locals who must join efforts in sharing intelligence and community policing. This will birth an integrated security network capable of preempting crimes even in remote areas.
“Since the government statement said some politicians are acting with ‘external parties’, it means that the fringes and far-flung areas of the state need to be guarded, including all boundaries leading to and out of the state. Homeland watch is key and has shown success in other places; Abia cannot be different.
“Having stated all these, the Foundation, once again, harps on the need to improve surveillance. No person or group should be allowed to exploit security gaps anywhere in the state. Like the Foundation has often advocated, what is happening in the state calls for installation of CCTV and street cameras on the streets – smart security provision. Nothing makes this call more ideal and timeous than the current security problems unveiling before us all.
“We wish to once again express our condolences to all those who lost their loved ones while hoping that with time and purpose, these criminal elements, whoever they are, shall be driven off and calm will return to Abia,” he said.
