Ben Ezechime, Enugu
In a bid to tackle the escalating insecurity in the South-East, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday convened a major stakeholders’ security summit in Enugu, reaffirming its commitment to addressing the region’s peculiar challenges, particularly the recurrent farmer–herder clashes linked to open grazing.
The National Security Summit brought together lawmakers, traditional rulers, Ohanaeze Ndigbo representatives, security agencies, local government chairmen, town union leaders and religious bodies—an indication of the severity of the crisis.
Speaking at the event, the South-East Coordinator of the summit, Senator Austin Akobundu, stressed the urgency of hearing directly from communities most affected by violence and instability. He lamented the “alarming rise in insecurity,” citing widespread killings, destruction of property, displacement, abandoned farmlands and disrupted schooling—factors he said were driving poverty, hunger and illiteracy.
Akobundu insisted that violence could never be a pathway to self-determination. He urged stakeholders to confront the structural issues fuelling the unrest, including inequity, marginalization, youth unemployment and deepening poverty.
While commending South-East governors for their ongoing efforts, the senator assured that the Senate would act swiftly on the summit’s recommendations, including possible amendments, repeals or new legislation to strengthen the national security architecture.
Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uche Ugwu, described the summit as a timely forum for the region to articulate its concerns and fashion workable solutions. He stressed that sustainable security rests on effective intelligence gathering and economic stability, calling for greater attention to youth vulnerabilities.
Ugwu drew wide applause when he identified perennial farmer–herder clashes as a major driver of insecurity and took a firm stance against open grazing.
“Anything open grazing in the South-East is against the peace of the land,” he declared.
Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu, praised the Senate’s grassroots-focused approach and pledged the support of community leaders in strengthening intelligence gathering and tackling insecurity from the base.
The summit is part of a nationwide initiative by the Senate Committee on Security to identify region-specific solutions and foster unified, collaborative efforts in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
