Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Stakeholders in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, over the weekend held a Security Summit at the Local Government Headquarters Pavilion in Enugu Ezike.
The summit which was well attended by sons and daughters of Igbo-Eze North also had in attendance Clergymen, Heads of various Security Agencies in the Local Government, including the Military, NDLEA, Enugu State Neighbourhood Strike Force, Police, and Forest Guard.
According to the organisers, the summit was aimed at bringing to an end the rising insecurities and criminalities ravaging the area.
It would be recalled that Igbo Eze North have been the epicenter of criminal activities in recent past including kidnapping, cultism, arson and a whole lot of vices.
Speaking at the event, the executive chairman of the local government, Hon. Ejike Itodo, recounted the losses the insecurities have cost the LG ranging from the number of innocent persons killed to the number of projects the insecurities denied the local government.
Specifically, Itodo told the gathering that the local government lost the opportunity of having a commercial bank built in Igbo Eze North due to insecurity.
He told them how arrangements were made for a Bank to open a branch in Igbo Eze North, and the period they agreed to come and commence work, insecurity heightened and all of a sudden, people were killed in the area including policemen.
“And that was how the bank management ran away and cancelled the idea of building a bank in Igbo Eze North till further notice.
“Efforts to get them back with assurances of security and safety failed as they made it clear that, nothing will bring them to Igbo Eze North until there is an appreciable level of peace and tranquility in the Area,” he said.
The Chairman further lamented the slow pace of development in Igbo Eze North owing to insecurity.
According to him, Caterpillars and heavy-duty trucks hardly agree to go to work in many places in Igbo Eze North because “they are often confronted by these criminals while at work.”
“In Umuagama community for instance, criminals burst caterpillar tyres used in grading roads there and it affected works going on there.
“You see what I am talking about, please my people, let us shun insecurity and embrace peace because there can never be development where there is insecurity,” he said.
Itodo urged the stakeholders to be security conscious, adding that security is everybody’s business.
“If you suspect any movement or persons, kindly bring words to the authorities and please do not bring false reports against anybody” he said.
He pleaded and encouraged everyone not to cover or harbour criminals in their homes or neighbourhood, saying that doing so attracts full wrath of the law.
In their separate contributions, Hon. Clifford Obe; Hon. Ejike Eze; Hon. Dennis Agbo, represented by Igbo Eze North Labour Party Chairman; Traditional Rulers;Barr. Richard Eke; and Heads of Security Agencies in Igbo Eze North present all spoke at length on the need to eschew insecurity and embrace peace in Igbo Eze North.
The stakeholders unanimously agreed that the Executive Chairman, Hon. Engr. Ejike Itodo, in collaboration with the people of Igbo Eze North stakeholders should set up a Committee on Youth Welfare that would be responsible for the welfare of the youths in the Council Area.
Likewise, a Security Committee that will be addressing peoples security problems and providing security assistance and advice to persons in Igbo Eze North would also be set up.
