Security
By Benprince Ezeh
UZODINMA Nwala, chairman Alaigbo Development Foundation, ADF, has urged the federal government to legalize the use of AK-47 in the country.
Nwala made the call in the letter he wrote to officially resigned as a member of the South-East Security Committee.
According to him, the purpose for which the security committee was set up has been made null and void with the pronouncements of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, chairman, South-East Governors Forum in abolishing the idea of a Regional Security Architecture for the South-East.
In the letter addressed to Gen. Obi Umahi, chairman South-East Security Committee, SSC, on August 25, 2020, Nwala said: “I write to resign formally as a member of the SSC, which was set up at a joint meeting of the Governors Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and ADF since February 2020.
“I do this because the purpose of which this Security Committee was set up has been made null and void with the pronouncements of the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, abolishing the idea of a Regional Security Architecture for the South-East.”
Nwala observed that the governors of the southeast have jointly rejected the idea of a Regional Security Architecture for the entire South East and by extension, the entire Alaigbo.
“The fact that the so-called southeast security committees set up since early 2020 and after several months, nothing had been achieved, which means that it was not intended to serve any useful purpose. In place of a Regional Security Scheme for Alaigbo, the Governors of the South-East have accepted the Community Policing program of the Federal Government.
“As you may recall, the Community Policing program had been rejected by the South East after the ADF exposed its inherent character as a policy to encourage the continued serial killing, kidnapping and rape of our women as well as ensure the occupation of Alaigbo by the Fulani Jihadists. As you may recall, ADF had compared the policy of Community Policing as equivalent to handing over the Security of Chickens to the Hawks.
“In opting out of the now moribund South-East Security Committee, we, in ADF shall continue to work with the various pan-Igbo organizations to advance all possible and legitimate means of ensuring the security of Alaigbo and her neighbors,” the letter stated.
The letter also said: “It should be recalled that in a press statement issued by the ADF on February 2020, we had stated unequivocally that the “policing plan of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, has been in operation in the southeast while the horrors in several parts of Alaigbo including Ebonyi State as depicted in the report of Gary Igariwey at the last Ime-Obi meeting as well as that depicted in the report by Aduba CP (rtd) at the Joint meeting of Ime-Obi and the Governors Forum.
“All those horrors rather than abating has been rising in crescendo with our helpless people wondering if they have any government or leaders who care for their plight. It is to be observed, very, unfortunately, that immediately following this declaration of the South-East governors, 21 unarmed Igbo youths have been gruesomely mowed down in Enugu State by combined forces of the army, Department of Security Service, DSS, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, police and other Security forces. Most of the personnel of these forces are no doubt non-Igbos. What is more, while this is happening, none of our governors is saying anything.
“In addition, it is our view and stand that the Security of Alaigbo is a joint responsibility between the Government and the People of Alaigbo.
“ADF is not opposed to any genuine and positive role of the Federal Government and her agencies in helping to tackle the prevailing state of grave insecurity in Alaigbo, provided that such role by Federal Agencies must be under the exercise and full control of personnel of our zone.
“The primary security outfit for the protection of Alaigbo must be that created by the Government and people of Alaigbo.
“Our people should not abandon their own individual and community responsibility for their security/If the Governors decide to abandon their own responsibility for the Security of our people, we, as organized patriotic forces in our land must continue to courageously play our role to ensure that our people overcome the present dangerous siege over our land.
“This is why history beckons on the emergent Coalition of Religious and Civil Society groups in Alaigbo to remain focused and determined to help protect our people. Certainly, part of their responsibility is to provide strategic guidance to our patriotic youth to enable them to play their role constructively.
“We wish to call on the Federal Government to legalize the use of AK-47 so that our people can arm themselves for self-defense.
“In the absence of this, we call on our people to arm themselves with any available defensive weapons for the protection of themselves, our wives and our children, this is a fundamental natural right that supersedes any state law,” the letter stated.
– Aug. 27, 2020 @ 12:45 GMT |
Tags: Why ADF president urged FG to legalise the use of AK-47
