In the past one month, we have witnessed a disturbing trend in criminal activities across the State, and particularly across the city of Enugu. As we navigate this political season, I would like to point out that security remains a paramount issue that must not be politicised, downplayed, or used as a tool for propaganda in the media.
I strongly condemn the attacks on children, women, workers, and all residents of Enugu State for going about their daily business. The determination to keep our people in a stranglehold of fear does no good for anyone, including those perpetrating, patronising, and promoting these movements. The realisation of a Southeast that works for her citizens and residents can not be achieved by stifling the run of business and social life.
On June 6, 2023, I released a statement acknowledging the need to put an end to the sit-at-home phenomenon while highlighting the need to approach its execution with tact and broad based stakeholder engagement. Insecurity in Nigeria and specifically in the South East can not be decreed out of existence.
The security of lives and property in Enugu State remains a collective responsibility of both the government and the citizens at large. Therefore, while I charge the government and security agencies to deploy their entire machinery to debunk the perception that non-state actors can undermine public safety without consequences, I must also reiterate that the following must immediately be facilitated by the sitting administration:
1. Stakeholder engagement across all levels must be a priority, alongside covert intelligence gathering operations. These crimes are not perpetrated by ghosts, nor are the criminals without a source of funding or arms. It is critical that close engagement happens at all levels in our communities to intercept the actions of criminals and their sponsors. Decisive actions must then follow.
2. The introduction of a new Distress Rapid Response Squad is commendable, and it is essential that they are fully supported for improved strategic, tactical, and combat operations. There must be a strategic prioritisation of key areas to cover for patrol operations.
3. The protection of our children is of high importance, and security personnel must be deployed to schools across the city, especially the public schools that have been mandated to stay in session. The Universal Basic Education Commission and the Post-Primary Schools Management Board must also put in place a security protocol through which primary and secondary schools can escalate security breaches as they occur.
4. In consideration of the sub-optimal police to citizen ratio, the administration must immediately embrace the upgrade or creation of State controlled security outfits to be trained by the statutory security agencies and work in collaboration with them toward the fulfilment of all adopted security measures.
5. As noted in my initial communiques on security, it is also critical that a Situation Room is immediately set up with adequate personnel to monitor security activities in the state and keep track with security agencies across the board.
6. While working with whatever is available at the moment, there must be ongoing investments in technology as it remains a key factor to securing lives and properties in the state.
7. The governments of the southeast states must understand and embrace the need for close collaboration to tackle the political, economic and social challenges that fuel the actions of non-state actors such as IPOB, ESN and the so-called unknown gunmen.
8. Residents must be addressed directly and frequently by the administration via the radio, television, and other social platforms, sharing as much honest information as is allowed for state security.
Finally, I would also encourage the current administration to embrace transparency and open communication with the public. It is important to keep citizens calm and confident, and denials about the reality of the situation, as I have seen on several platforms, will not help this cause in the long run.
The security of lives and properties is of utmost importance for our social and economic growth, and I hope that we can see good progress in the shortest possible time.
God bless Enugu State.
Nweke is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu State.
