…Say militarisation hurting zone’s economy, chasing away youths
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Igbo women under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, have pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pull the military out of South-East roads back to their barracks, arguing that the multiple military checkpoints on the roads are taking a toll on the economy of the zone.
The women lamented the loss of man-hours during movements within South-East as a result of multiple military checkpoints in the zone.
Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, Abia State, the National President of IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, appreciated the sacrifices of the military but expressed worry over alleged humiliation and harassment of commuters at military checkpoints.
They lamented that multiple security roadblocks in South-East hurt the zone’s economy.
According to the socio-cultural women body, the heavy presence of the military on South-East roads causes fear among youths following alleged harassments and humiliations at such checkpoints.
They equally alleged that the militarisation of South-East is responsible for the migration of youths from the zone.
This, they argued, will over time, if not stopped, result into a displacement of the people from their ancestral land.
Lolo Chimezie expressed displeasure over the loss of man-hour and traffic congestions due to multiple military checkpoints in the zone.
She recalled her experience while traveling from Lagos to Owerri, and pleaded with the military authorities to investigate allegations of humiliation of commuters at military checkpoints in the South-East.
“I slept on the road last year at Ihiala because of traffic jam caused by a military checkpoint. With the heavy presence of the military in the South-East, it appears as if we are under siege.
“A journey from Onitsha to Owerri that should ordinarily not take more than two hours now takes up to four hours due to multiple military checkpoints.
“It’s the same story from Onitsha to Enugu, and Enugu to Aba. Orlu in Imo State is now a ghost town. The excessive military checkpoints in the South-East are grounding our economy. Our political leaders should rise to the occasion.”
The women condemned attacks on the military by criminals in the zone, arguing that “the soldiers are people’s sons, husbands and fathers.”
They said the military sacrifice so much to protect the people, and do not deserve any attacks.
IWA, therefore, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to pull the military from South-East roads and return them to the barracks.
According to IWA, soldiers can always be deployed from their barracks when necessary instead of staying on the roads.
They want police to man the roadblocks instead of the military.
They said that it would be unfair to tag everybody in South-East as unknown gunmen, arguing innocent citizens are also victims of the criminal activities of the group.
Igbo women called for a thorough probe of a certain private person who claimed he was engaged by the past administration to protect South-East.
They wondered why a private individual would be engaged by Government to secure a zone without the knowledge of the people.
The women also frowned at the branding every youth in the South-East as a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra, to blackmail them.
“Every Igbo youth is tagged IPOB. This is scaring them away from home. We want our sons to bury us and not we burying them. How can they come home to invest when they are branded IPOB?”
IWA further called for the disarming of herders wreaking havoc in parts of South-East especially in agrarian communities.
They lamented that despite killings of innocent citizens by murderous herders, security agencies are yet to engage the perpetrators.
The women decried the high cost of food items in the zone, blaming it on the activities of criminal herders which have taken a toll on farmers.
“We have land but we cannot go to farm again because of herdsmen. We now depend on the North to feed. We say no to this.”
They urged South-East Governors to enact and enforce anti-grazing laws to help stop the activities of herdsmen in the zone.
“Igbo people are all over the country doing their businesses. We buy our shops and build them. The same way, cattle rearing is a big business. Herdsmen should be made to buy lands for ranches and stop using their cows to inflict sorrows and economic pains on us.
“You cannot use your cow to destroy my crops and later sell it to me. It doesn’t make sense.”
IWA further tasked South-East Governors on the security of the zone, arguing that there is no way they can woo investors unless they provide conducive business climate.
“Our sons cannot come home to invest when there is no conducive environment. No investor will come if there is fear in the zone.”
The women commended the efforts of Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State; and Alex Otti of Abia State in reviving the economy of their respective states.
They urged them to sustain the tempo and help change the narrative.
IWA also pleaded with President Tinubu to heed the calls for a political solution to the affairs of the detained IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
IWA argued that Kanu’s release will help restore peace to the South-East.
They urged women to support their husbands in catering for the needs of the family, and to invest in their children.
