Tension In Anambra State Over Killing of Security Officers, Others

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

It appears that security men comprising the Police, Military and others in Anambra State have become targets of gunmen as unknown gunmen continued to kill them unabated in various communities which seems to be affecting the security of lives and property in the State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that hoodlums had recently terrorised the state by killing no fewer than six Policemen, four naval men, a prison warder including a Legal practitioner and others.

Several Police stations had also been set ablaze in similar circumstances, which seems to equally weaken the entire security architecture in the State.

Following the ugly situation in the State, the Nigerian Bar Association in the state has announced three-day strike to protest the killing of their member and insecurity in the State.

The Civil Liberty Organization,  CLO, has equally raised alarm and called for respect for the sanctity and sacredness of human persons.This was contained in a press release jointly endorsed by Comrades Vincent Ezekwueme and Chidi Mba, Chairman and Secretary of CLO, respectively.
The group decried with great disdain the gruesome murder of Policemen at Ekwulobia, Neni and Awkuzu.They stated that the actions of the perpetrators were inhuman, barbaric, horrendous and the worst form of man’s inhumanity against his fellow men.

“It is most despicable and detestable to mindlessly kill security men, who had patriotically dedicated and devoted their lives, time and talents towards protection of lives and properties of citizens.”

“When gold rusts, what will happen to the iron. If those constitutionally empowered to protect us are unconscionable murdered, the future will not only be bleak but no one will be safe.”

“CLO calls for an end to the dastardly act and discreet investigation in other to bring the perpetrators to face the full wrath of law.We appeal to citizens to respect the commandments of ‘thou shall not kill’. They must remember that anyone, who kills an innocent person, will lose not only his life but every things he is and he has.”

CLO expressed their heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved, CP Monday Kurya, Nigeria Police Force and all those pained by the death of the gallant officers and for God to give them fortitude to bear and endure the irreparable and irreplaceable lost.

“May God forgive their shortcomings and accept them into paradise and CLO equally calls for establishment of Special Fund to carter for families of Police officers, who lost their lives because when one suffers directly, everyone suffers indirectly.”

In the same vein, Lawyers in Anambra State have declared a three-day strike, starting from Monday, over the insecurity in the state.

This came barely 24 hours after their member, Frank Onwuachi, who was abducted by gunmen was found dead.On Saturday, the Nigerian Bar Association, Anambra State Chapter, after reviewing the situation, ordered its members to boycott Courts in the state for three days, starting from Monday.

A statement signed by the eight Chairmen of Bar branches in the state read in part:  “The Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association branches in Anambra State bemoans the worsening security situation in Anambra State and calls on the Federal Government, Anambra State Government and heads of security agencies to wake up and be alive to their responsibilities of protecting lives and properties of the citizens”.
“The Committee notes that the security situation in Anambra State is highly tensed up and frightening to say the least.“Recently, there has been cases of kidnap and gruesome murder/killing of innocent citizens and security personnel in the state and nothing is being done to curb this frightening security challenges in the State.”

“Just last week Friday, a Lawyer, Frank Onwuachi, who is also the President General of Omor in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, was kidnapped along Ezu River/Anaku Road and gruesomely murdered the following day by his captors.”
“On 19/3/2021, two Prison Officials were killed at Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA and this is barely 24 hours after Naval officers and Policemen were killed at Awkuzu and Neni respectively.”
“Also, a Naval Outpost close to Bridgehead was attacked sometimes last week resulting in the killings of some Naval officers and their weapons carted away.”
“We call on the State Government to as a matter of urgency summon a meeting of various security agencies in the state to address this worrisome security situations and tackle it headlong. Failure by the State Government to act immediately may lead to a descent to anarchy.”

“We all cannot continue to downplay the security situation or pretend that all is well. The time to act is now.”

While condoling with the NBA Otuocha branch, the families of late Frank Onwuachi and all security men killed by unknown gunmen, the lawyers resolvedthat all lawyers in the state “shall boycott all Courts from Monday to Wednesday”.

“That all lawyers in Anambra State should converge on the Judiciary Headquarters, Awka on Monday, by 12 noon for onward movement to the Government House, Awka, to express our dissatisfaction with the current security situation in Anambra State,” they said.