* Urges youths to team up with security personnel
Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has ordered personnel of the Special Security Committee on Umunneochi to deal ruthlessly with any ‘stranger’ occupying Abia forests without reasonable mission.
The governor gave the charge while inaugurating the special committee on Thursday at the Government House Umuahia, vowing that the government would not give strangers with dubious motives any breathing space in the State.
He decried the menacing activities of hoodlums in Abia North axis, explaining that intelligence report links them to the presence of the Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta.
Ikpeazu warned that henceforth, there would be no ungoverned space in the State, and charged the committee to mobilise youths in Umunneochi to chase away all illegal occupants of their forests.
The governor further explained that the State has decided to adopt community-based security approach, “where we will depend on youths in the communities for the security of their areas.”
Ikpeazu further explained that the option is a child of necessity following the recent abduction of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Eminence Samuel Uche.
“This special committee is a child of necessity borne out of the incessant kidnappings and security breaches in Umunneochi and Isuikwuato axis.
“There should be no more ungoverned spaces. Nobody should live in our forests again. The owners of the land cannot be at their homes and strangers will go and occupy their forests.
” Our youths should go and drive away those strangers in our forests. If we find out that any of our children is conniving with the strangers the person will also be dealt with.
” One successful crime emboldens the criminal to commit another. Therefore, your mandate includes mobilising the youths to go into the forests, stamp out stranger elements from our forests.”
The Governor also threatened that any security agent found to be collaborating with criminals would not be spared.
Ikpeazu said he had directed the immediate re-opening of the link road between Isuochi and Ihube in Imo State hitherto blocked by security agents, and said the road should be made accessible by people to reduce crime wave around the vicinity.
He pledged full Government support for the committee including giving them patrol vehicles and motorcycles to enable them succeed in their onerous task.
Ikpeazu, also promised to extend the same measure to Isuikwuato and Ukwa East local government areas, which are also becoming hot-beds.
“We will hand over the policing of our various communities to those who own these communities.
“God gave us this place, he did not give it to us for others to come and occupy it”.
Responding on behalf of other members, Chairman of the committee, His Royal Majesty, Eze Okechukwu Chukwudi, thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve the State.
He assured that the objective of the committee would be realised.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Eze Chikamnayo, is to serve as the Secretary of the Committee, while the Sarki Hausa, Alhaji Eze Yaro Danladi, represents the Northern community in the committee.