From Magnus Eze, Enugu
There is silver lining in Enugu State regarding the security concerns. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in partnership with the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali and the heads of other security agencies has moved to stem the tide.
Daily Sun gathered that the governor vowed to stop at nothing to ensure peace returned to the troubled parts especially Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government, where many natives had reportedly been having recurring clashes with suspected herdsmen.
At the moment, a humanitarian situation prevails in Isi-Uzo council as Mgbuji, Ebor and other communities in Eha-Amufu have become desolate.
Though the governor was making concerted effort, but the icing on the cake was the recent visit of Alkali to commission the newly built facilities for the officers and men of the force at Inyi in Oji River Local Government and Agu-Ekwegbe in Igbo Etiti council.
At Inyi, the IGP commissioned a divisional police station, strategically sited to curb criminal activities which had before now, led to the burning of a police station and the killing of some officers on duty in the area.
Alkali urged the community to guard the station jealously and help in protecting it since it was meant to serve them and the Oji River council area in general: “I am also charging police personnel to serve the community and the council area with professionalism and elicit the people’s confidence to gain information and intelligence from them for effective policing.”
He noted that the security challenge in the South-East and the country in general was surmountable and needed the people to work in close partnership and cooperation with the police.
At Agu-Ekwegbe community, the IGP commissioned a new complex and barracks of the Mobile Police Force (MPF) 76 Squadron, built and furnished by Ugwuanyi. He described the facility as an excellent working place and accommodation for members of the force. He urged the Squadron Commander to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring robust security within the area:
“I will be donating an additional Hilux jeep to the new squadron, 10 AK-47, one General Purpose Machine Gun, body armour and one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) to be collected immediately from the Force Headquarters.
“We will make efforts to deploy Special Forces to the state but you have to provide the needed accommodation for them. I have given authority to the new Squadron Commander to recruit more mobile police personnel from all divisions, units and squads within the state.
“As you have requested, I will release back to you units of the Mobile Police Force 3 Squadron before now in assignments outside the state.”
The governor lauded the IGP and thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for continuous investment in security and safety of Nigerians especially the residents of Enugu State. He appreciated the approval for the establishment of the MPF 76 Squadron. He disclosed that the new formation has commenced full operation.
Ugwuanyi stated that government was further supporting the new squadron with a Hilux van, five motorcycles and two generating sets to rid the axis of criminality and criminal elements: “This project is one among a series of interventions of the state government to ensure that Enugu State remains the safest in the country; as well as guarantee peace, security and safety at all times.”
He maintained that his administration was conscious of its primary purpose of ensuring the security and welfare of the people as enshrined in section 14 sub-section 2(b) of Nigeria’s constitution (as amended).
He stated that they had in the past, executed and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Enugu State Command, the construction of main access roads, internal roads and car parking lot at No. 3 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Agbani Road, Enugu: “Installation of all-in-one 80 watts solar-powered lightings in all divisional police stations in Enugu State; construction and furnishing of new divisional police stations at Orba and Emene as well as provision of logistics support including operational vehicles and communication equipment.
“As a government, we will continue to support and complement the activities of various security agencies serving in the state, especially the Nigeria Police.”
The new MPF 76 Squadron complex consists of an administrative block with offices and a conference hall, provost office, two quarters for the commander and his assistant, clinic, canteen, transit hall, solar lighting, generating set, standard parade ground among others.
In another development, the governor meeting with stakeholders from Eha-Amufu, expressed the optimism that solution was around the corner. He disclosed that he would soon hold similar meetings with the Fulani community as well as his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom.
He told Aha-Amufu leaders: “We have laid the foundation for peace and unity. We have been able to restate our resolve for forgiveness. The unity of our people and economy of Eha-Amufu are paramount and we must restore life to the area.
“I want to reassure you that your pains are my pains and that I cannot fold my hands and watch you suffer. I may not be happy with a lot of things, especially when some people have access to AK 47 and use it anyhow and others do not.
“It will take years for those who have been displaced, especially the innocent ones, to recover and face their life again. It will take years for the memories of those killed, out of nothing, to be forgotten. These are poor people who can barely feed. I went there in the night to discover that there was no light anywhere. I feel their pains.”
The governor indicated that he would liaise with Ortom to improve patrol around the axis that serves as escape routes for the invaders.
Some of the stakeholders blamed leadership gaps, dangerous politics being played by their people, divisions and an attempt by some Fulani herders to “acquire, annex and intimidate the people to occupy their land,” as responsible for the killings in the area.
They debunked rumours making the rounds that they sold some of their land to the Fulani, declaring that Eha-Amufu had no boundaries with Fulani people. In fact, they alleged that the Fulani had always collaborated with some Benue people to attack the community to acquire spaces to live in:
“They chased us away from our farm settlements into the homeland. Now, they have left the farm settlements and are attacking us in our homes. We cannot go to the farms any longer. In this season, where we normally harvested rice, we cannot return there to harvest and hunger is killing our people.”
Daily Sun was told that emphasis was also being placed on intelligence gathering just as the communities have been enjoined to be part of their homeland security.