From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Igbo Communities Association (ICA) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on the leaders and governors of the South East and all Igbo-speaking regions to rise and address the rapidly deteriorating security situation across the nation, especially in the region.
The ICA, in a press statement, yesterday, issued by its President General, Engr Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, noted that the insecurity across the country and in the South East in particular has exceeded a degree of menace to be treated with kid gloves.
The statement reads further, “It is with deep regret that we note that Nigeria has become increasingly unsafe for its ordinary citizens. A dangerous tandem of marauding bandits, militant herdsmen, and extremist elements has made it perilous to operate freely in most rural and urban communities across the country.
“The recent brazen attack on a Catholic church in Enugu State is an atrocity that cannot and will not be allowed to repeat itself. This heinous act has crossed the red line. The perpetrators have dared to touch the tail of a sleeping lion and challenge the great elephant. This attack serves as the last straw. The Igbo people are inherently peaceful and progressive. We have historically cooperated and coexisted with people of all ethnicities across Nigeria. “Let it be strictly on record: we are not engaged in any ‘farmer-herder clash’ with any ethnic group, nor have we ever launched deliberate attacks on others. We are simply facing unprovoked aggression.
“While the ICA FCT commends the current crop of South East governors for their good performance in office, thus far, the time has come for decisive security action. We strongly urge our governors to emulate the proactive measures taken by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, by immediately establishing and deploying armed forest guards to secure our forests and flush out these criminal elements.
“We must act now; it is already getting late. We cannot afford to wait for the bureaucratic implementation of State Police to secure our lives and properties. From all indications, previous non-state security arrangements, including the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the security outfit established by the outlawed IPOB, have collapsed or been abandoned. This has left a dangerous security vacuum in our region, a vacuum that must be legitimately and urgently filled by our state governments.
“We do not need another national embarrassment or tragedy like the recent incident at the Catholic Church in Enugu State. The move to establish armed forest guards is not just necessary; it is a matter of survival”, it concluded.
The post Igbo in FCT condemn Enugu church attack, task S’East govs on menace appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
