Elder statesman Obidigbo decries insecurity in southeast

By Okwe Obi, Abuja

Elder statesman Dr Chike Obidigbo has raised concerns over the escalating acts of criminality in the South-East, urging governments at all levels to look beyond the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Eastern Security Network (ESN), and the so-called unknown gunmen to address the issue comprehensively.

Obidigbo lamented the recent abduction of 75-year-old Anglican Archbishop Rev Godwin Okpala, highlighting that the rising wave of kidnappings in the region, particularly in Anambra State, continues to drive forced migrations from the South-East.

He expressed regret that while some South-East states have introduced death sentences for kidnapping, no concrete measures have been implemented to protect citizens effectively.

“The prolonged captivity of Archbishop Okpala during the yuletide season represents the worst form of wickedness and paints the South-East as a troubled region,” Obidigbo said.

He warned that the South-East is increasingly being portrayed as a region in decline, causing businesses and well-meaning citizens to flee. “It is disheartening that the Federal and State governments have not been able to find a solution to this troubling menace,” he remarked.

Obidigbo called on South-East governors, political officeholders, and traditional institutions to set aside partisan politics and work together to tackle the root causes of kidnapping.

“How can kidnappers operate freely, abducting hapless citizens and collecting huge ransoms in this age of advanced technology?” he questioned. “It is time for both the Federal and State governments to declare that enough is enough and put a permanent end to the abduction and exploitation of human lives for ransom.”

He also expressed concern that there may be a deliberate plan to render the South-East uninhabitable. “The primary duty of any responsible government is to secure and protect the lives of its people. Every other function is secondary,” he added.

Obidigbo pleaded with the kidnappers holding the retired Archbishop to show compassion and release him, appealing to citizens to unite in collective action against violent crimes.