By Nwanosike Onu, Awka; Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu; Chris Njoku, Owerri and Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki Southeast residents on Sunda...
By Nwanosike Onu,
Awka; Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu; Chris Njoku, Owerri and Ogochukwu Anioke,
Abakaliki
Southeast residents on Sunday said they have been staying at
home every Monday because they can no longer count on security agencies to
protect them.
Despite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) calling off
its Monday sit-at-home directive, which it introduced to protest the detention
of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, residents have been afraid to come out on Mondays
for fear of being attacked.
Anambra State Coordinator, Transform Nigeria Movement TNM,
Comrade Obi Ochije, told our correspondent that IPOB’s activities had instilled
fear in residents.
He said the people were also disenchanted with the attitude
of some of the policemen who, according to him, extort money from those they
are supposed to protect.
He said people prefer to stay alive in their homes than
coming out to be killed by hoodlums.
A worker in one of the ministries, who did not want to be
named, said Police had failed the people.
“We went to make a
complaint to the police recently and they told us: ‘You people clap when IPOB
kill our men’.”
The police spokesman in Anambra, Ikenga Tochukwu, said
people still had confidence in the police to protect them as they still receive
calls for help.
He said despite the attacks by some miscreants, the police
would continue to protect lives and property.
But, a senior police officer, who did not want to be named,
said the police have failed the people.
“If you want to know the truth, let me tell you. Our men
have failed the people through the way they brazenly collect money from the
residents.
“People don’t respect the police and they talk to them
nowadays anyhow they like. Motorists and traders don’t fear the police anymore
because of extortion.
“You hardly see any
policeman in uniform anymore…everyone wants to be alive, including policemen
because they are also humans.
“But, one thing is clear, the masses listen more to IPOB
nowadays than the police,” the officer said.
Enugu residents:
we’re scared
Residents of Enugu State said they chose to stay at home on
Mondays to avoid any trouble that may despite the assurances by the state
police command.
They said they did not have faith in the ability of the
police to protect them should any trouble erupt.
Rather, they said, police would arrest innocent people and
parade them as trouble makers.
A resident, Kene Unogu, said: “This whole fear is heightened
by security operatives. Most of them are always afraid of seeing people stay in
clusters.
“So, even policemen are happy that the people don’t come out
on that day.”
Another resident, Tony Aja said: “I stay away on Monday, not
because of my loyalty to anyone, but my safety.”
The spokesman of the Enugu state police command, Daniel
Ndukwe, could not take his calls to respond to people’s concerns when our
correspondent called his phone line.
Our fears, by Imo
residents
President General of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders
(COSEYL), Goodluck Egwu Ibem, said residents do not count on security agencies
to protect them because of their insincerity, corruption and rights abuses.
“No right-thinking person will trust security agencies that
kill the citizens they are paid to protect. Even if IPOB members come out on
the streets to ask people to come out, residents will not still come. That is
the true position presently,” he said
A retired civil servant, Benjamine Nwosu, said so many
people were arrested on trumped-up charges of been IPOB members.
“You are not safe on a sit-at-home day if you are outside
your home. People who even sit outside drinking end up being arrested by the
police and they will be accused of one thing or the other,” Nwosu said.
A lawyer and President of Igbo National Movement (INM),
Anthony Okolo-Olisa, believes the people no longer accept federal authorities
as legitimate and capable of protecting lives and property.
The Imo Command spokesman, Michael Abattam, said the police
would continue to do their job.
“Our campaign is people should go about their lawful duties
and should stop obeying illegalities because anything that is coming from
bandits is illegitimate. So, somebody who doesn’t have authority, and you are
listening to such people, it is absurd.
“We have increased the number of policemen on the streets to
forestall any unnecessary attack. We have increased our patrol.
“We now have robust patrol teams within the state to make
sure that people go about their lawful duties without fear of molestation. We
want to make sure policemen are seen within every pole.
“All these are measures to curtail whatever any miscreant
who wants to take the law into his hands,” Abattam said.
Umahi: IPOB
activities harming region
Ebonyi Governor David Umahi said IPOB’s activities have
resulted in federal agencies issuing travel advisories to their staff against
travelling to the Southeast.
He spoke while addressing stakeholders of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Abakaliki, the state capital, ahead of the
forthcoming local government congress.
He urged the people of the state and the region to rise and
join the government in resisting the destruction of the region’s economy.
He said: “Southeast is being gradually destroyed. We have to
fight it. A lot of federal agencies have placed the Southeast and Ebonyi on red
alert.
“For example, the Aviation ministry, it took my going to
Abuja for them to agree to come for inspection and to give the necessary
approvals for the airport.
“Other ministries and agencies have placed Southeast on red
alert. It is the highest level of foolishness. I want us to all help.
“The other Monday many civil servants did not go to work. We
decided not to pay them but we later forgave them but tomorrow (today) anybody
that doesn’t go to work will cease to be a civil servant.
“Security agencies must start parading everywhere. Let
everybody come out. Let us come out and save our dear state and Southeast,”
Umahi said.
Despite the governor’s appeals and warnings, many residents
said they would remain indoors for fear of being attacked.
A civil servant, who did not want to be named, said: “It is
easier for them to give a directive. I would rather lose my job than lose my
life.
“How can I come out when there is no police presence in my
area? Do they want me to be attacked and maybe killed?. I won’t try it”.
A trader, Mr James Okorie, said people were reluctant to go
out because they still doubt that the suspension of the sit-at-home came from
IPOB.
He said: “Remember, the week the suspension was announced,
there were reports of some attacks in some parts of Southeast.
“Before that, the first week of the sit-at-home, many were
killed and properties destroyed for flouting it despite government assurance of
security. This was after news that the sit-at-home was cancelled by Kanu’s
brother.
“So, people don’t trust the government to protect them and
they still doubt whether the suspension is from IPOB while others believe the
group is facationalised with one side in support of the suspension and the
other against it.”
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