Following the attacks on Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo- Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, two weeks ago, governors of the South East states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra have decided to firm up security in the zone. Sunday Telegraph investigation in the zone revealed that while the governors have taken some secret steps to stop possible reprisals, they are also working hard to stop a repeat of such an incident in any part of the zone. The moves, Sunday Telegraph learnt, include the formation of vigilante groups in various communities, apart from other measures not made public. The moves also followed questions of competence and capacities of the governors raised by stakeholders in the region on putting a stop to the excesses of the gun-wielding herdsmen.
Okorocha, while addressing traditional rulers at the parley, called for calm and restraint. He also mandated the monarchs to take absolute control of security in their various autonomous communities and demanded absolute vigilance. The governor said: “This is an important meeting. I want to kindly request all of you to take responsibility of security in your domains to ensure peaceful co-existence between the Igbo and other Nigerians living in your areas.
“The killings in Enugu State were inhuman and those behind the killings should be made to face the law. As traditional rulers, you are to take charge of security in your autonomous communities. You are now the Chief Security Officers of your communities and you must ensure harmony between your people and others living with them.
Yet, you must maintain absolute vigilance and a sustained commitment to the protection of lives in your rural communities.” Sunday Telegraph also learnt from impeccable sources that the traditional rulers were mandated to set up community based vigilante groups to protect their communities.
“Yes, we were told to set up vigilante groups in our areas, where we don’t have any. It is not strictly because of the Enugu attack but to ensure that we reduced crime in our areas. It is just a precautionary measure,” said a monarch. In Aba, the commercial city of Abia State, since last Thursday’s killing of a butcher at the Waterside abattoir by a soldier, who opened fire on the meat sellers and buyers, the state government has also taken preemptive measures following the violence that shook the city to its very foundation after the shooting. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu declared a plan to enlarge the state vigilance service, aka Bakassi Boys. Every community in Abia State is mandated to send a contingent of 10 able bodied youths.
The action became necessary, according to Ikpeazu because though the security agencies may be prompt in responding to incidents of security breach in the urban areas, they lack the capacity for prompt response in the rural communities. In most cases, before they arrive a lot of damage would have been done.
The Bakassi Boys security outfit began as a popular movement against crime and evil in Aba in the 90s. The success of its operation in sanitising the city made it popular and sought after by neighbouring state of Anambra and Onitsha in particular where it also excelled in cleansing the city of crime and criminal elements.
Ikpeazu also directed the men of the Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) to commence, with immediate effect, a two-week intensive training, for onward deployment to communities across the state to assist in community policing under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police. Traditional Rulers in the state were also directed to submit names of 10 ablebodied youths from their community to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs from Tuesday 10th to Wednesday 11th May 2016.
These youths will be enlisted into the Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) to further boost community policing in the state. In Enugu State, the state government, traditional rulers and Presidents-General of more than 400 town unions in the state on May 2, 2016 resolved to take issue of security of the state more seriously.
They are now to adopt a proactive approach to security matters but without compromising the activities of statutory security outfits in the state. After a crucial security meeting with far-reaching resolutions, the state said they will work in harmony with statutory security agencies to secure the state.
One of the major resolutions at the meeting, which took place at Old Gover- nor’s Lodge Enugu, was the announcement by the state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, that he would establish a Neighbourhood Watch Board to coordinate the activities of Neighbourhood Watch associations that serve as vigilante groups across the state. Ugwuanyi announced the donation of N100 million as seed money to enable the Board to take off. Among other resolutions was the amendment of the law establishing the Neighbourhood Watch (vigilante groups) in the state to strengthen them and possibly enable them to bear arms.
The communiqué of the meeting was read by Ugwuanyi, who had earlier in his opening address announced government’s intention “to activate the provisions of the extant and relevant laws of Enugu State particularly, the Neighbourhood Association and Watch Groups Law 2006, which provides for associations in every autonomous community in Enugu State.”
In Ebonyi State, the situation is the same. Students of the state University welcomed the move by Governor David Umahi, who ordered herdsmen out of the university campuses. “We have actually been staying with these Fulani herdsmen in the university for long before the state government ordered for their eviction on Wednesday and their activities have been affecting us,” said a student. Students and the university management have been complaining about the dangers their activities pose to the institution.
Their several complaints did not receive the attention of past administrations in the state. But Umahi was surprised to notice the presence of the herdsmen in the premises of the institution and ordered their eviction to a more conducive place within seven days.
He said there was no reason why cattle should stay with students in the university. Umahi, however, opposed the calls for a reprisal attack on the herdsmen in the south east zone over the brutal killings in Ukpabi Nimbo, Uzo Uwani Local government in Enugu State by members of the herdsmen.
