Security
By Kennedy Nnamani
FOLLOWING the recent incessant security challenges plaguing the south-eastern part of the country, Intersociety, a civil society group has berated the activities of the governors of the region on the issue of security.
In a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, board chair and the executives, the group said that the governors should “go and bury their faces in shame”.
According to the group, the present crop of South-East Governors are the worst since 1999.
The statement disclosed that Intersociety has continued to receive investigative intelligence strongly showing that the governors are strongly, but remotely aware of the conquest mapping of the South-East by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen and their backers within the Nigerian Government and the country’s security and defense establishments.
The statement read: “the governors are so weak that they have knowingly, but clandestinely signed away the Eastern territorial and human personal security and safety.
“The Governors have also been using diversionary and deceitful tactics against their people by constantly denying or debunking invasions and attacks by the Jihadists. This is to the extent they constantly pressurize traditional rulers and religious leaders and their political subordinates not to link such invasions and attacks to Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen, but to “Unknown Gunmen” or “ESN/IPOB” terrorists.
“The Governors’ lame-duck position is also extended to “intelligence” being acted upon by the commanders of the deployed security agencies-branded “ESN/IPOB Toxins.”
It further added that the “Governors are so conformist, weak and rudderless that they sit and do nothing while over 90% of security, defense and policing formations in their Region/States are flooded with senior commanders of non-East/South-East extraction who are mainly, if not mostly Northern Muslims; a sort of sobriquet “esprit de jihad.”
The group therefore called for de-radicalization of the safety and security in the East so as to give the Eastern population a true sense of belonging, including ‘security and safety with local contents’.
It recommended that the 11 Governors of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa must approach the High Commands of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, DSS and Nigeria Police Force and insist on 60% Security Chiefs from the East deployment to the East and immediate transfer of the 20 Muslim senior security officers in the region.
Others, who signed the statement, include Obianuju Joy Igboeli; Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Program, Chidinma Udegbunam, Head, Campaign and Publicity Department.
Below are the names of the officers in question:
Maj-Gen Aminu Chinade, GOC, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Maj-Gen Umar Musa, GOC 82 Division, Enugu, Brig Gen Sani Suleiman, 34 Brigade Commander, Obinze, Brig-Gen Adegoke Adetuyi, 14 Brigade Commander, Ohafia, Brig-Gen Abubakar Wase, Brig Commander, 2 Brigade, Uyo, Brig-Gen Danlami Ndahi, Brig Commander, 4 Brigade, Benin, Col M.B. Abubakar, Commander, 302 Artillery, Onitsha, Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola, Air Officer Commanding Ground Tactical Command, Enugu, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command, Calabar; AIG Kamaldeen Kola Okunlola, Police AIG in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, AIG Abutu Yaro, AIG in charge of Zone 13 Awka, AIG Lawan Jimeta, AIG in charge of Zone 5 Benin, AIG I. Akinmoyede, AIG in charge of Zone 9 Umuahia, CP Mustapha Bala Mohammed, Commissioner of Police, Abia State, CP Ahmed Ammani, Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, CP Muhammed Ali, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Aliyu Garba, Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, CP Sule Balarabe, Commissioner of Police, Cross River State, CP Olatoye Durosinmi, Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State and CP Mohammed Adamu Dankwara, Commissioner of Police, Edo State.
Such overhauls must also be extended to the headships of Spy Police formations in the 11 States as well as principal officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force bases, artilleries, battalions and engineering regiments in Warri, Ogoja, Abakiliki, Enugu, Elele, Ogbaru, Owerre-Nta, Asa and Aba.
Tags: Chidinma Udegbunam Emeka Umeagbalasi Gen Aminu Chinade Obianuju Joy Igboeli
