Following the persistent insecurity and violence caused by the South-East sit-at-home, some security experts have stated that the federal and state governments must demonstrate political will, respect the rule of law, and engage in conversation with important stakeholders in the region to stop the threat.
Dr Kabir Adamu, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Consulting, an indigenous security risk management and intelligence consulting firm, told Newsmen on Thursday that the government, Nnamdi Kanu, and his supporters must be prepared to obey the law.
Despite efforts by current and former governors in the region to terminate the sit-in and instability, the Monday sit-in has persisted. There have been reports of violence in the region as a result of the one-week sit-in ordered by the Simon Ekpa-led section of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra.
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Among other things, the Amaraku Market in Imo State’s Isiala Mbano Local Government Area was burned down on Friday night, and a tricycle rider was slain in Owerri, the state capital.
As part of the one-week sit-at-home period, gunmen set fire to a police patrol van in the Ukwuagba-Ngbo community in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Tuesday.
The attackers were alleged to have attacked a police roadblock in the region and ordered officers on duty to leave while setting fire to their van. Last Monday, the splinter group declared a one-week sit-in across the South-East.
Speaking on how to address the problem, Adamu said, “Like every part of Nigeria, the South-East is being bedeviled by insecurity challenges. We are shying away from calling it what it is. It is quite unfortunate because those people are not ghosts. They operate within the environment. The security agencies and the locals know them. I think it is a reflection of how bad things have become in the country that we are using the term ‘unknown gunmen’.
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“To address the issues, it will be a combination of political, social, and security initiatives. Hence, there has to be a political decision which will involve the state, local government, traditional rulers, and everyone who has influence.”
Adamu stated that both the federal and state governments must address the concerns that led to the security dilemma, such as real and perceived marginalization.
He also stated that the criminal justice system needed to be strengthened so that anyone who picks up arms illegally and is not a member of any security organization gets arrested and convicted.
Speaking on the calls for Kanu’s release as a means to douse tension in the region, Adamu said, “Nnamdi Kanu is among the political discussion to ensure peace in the region. The Federal Government has accused him of certain offenses, and at a point, the court released him on bail. But for some reason, he was not released on bail. We can’t operate in a country that does not obey the rule of law.
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“If the court says Kanu should be released on bail, then he should be released on bail. If the Federal Government has enough evidence to support the allegations against him, they should present the evidence in court. If they don’t have it, he should be released with conditions. Just as the Federal Government should obey the rule of law, Kanu too should obey the law and those incitements should stop. All sides need to comply with the provisions of the law.”
In addition, Chigozie Ubani, a security consultant and fellow at the Institute of Security in Nigeria, told our correspondent that while the gunmen’s actions should be denounced and dealt with in accordance with the law, the Federal Government should investigate the core source of the problem.
He stated, “Why are people raising guns against the state? From the Niger Delta, Asari Dokubo is raising guns. It is the same thing in the Northeast. For the South-East, Nnamdi Kanu is the issue. He has been in detention against court orders to release him. The Federal Government, through the courts, has kept him in custody and his case is as slow as a snail.
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“Why is the government deliberately instigating this? Let the government look into Nnamdi Kanu’s case by meeting South-East stakeholders and working out something. It has to be a win-win situation.
“It must not be the way the government wants it or how Kanu wants it. That is why political leaders are very important at this time. There are some new governors in the South East with a new mindset. Ohanaeze is also there. A few more stakeholders should also be involved.”
Ubani claimed that once Kanu is released, the turmoil will end, emphasizing that the government must move quickly to contain the situation.
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