Despite Threats Of Reprisal, South East Calm

Despite efforts being made by governors of the Southeast region and other stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the region, the recent killing of five soldiers at a checkpoint in Abia State has exacerbated tension among residents of the state and, by extension, some other parts of the region.

This followed the stern warning by the military authorities and the presidency on the consequences of the act, especially as it was linked to non-state actors who ostensibly must have fled the exact location of the killing for other areas within the region.

Though the military has not come up with any update on the incident or their activity in the region in that regard-viz troop movement and arrests, reports from Abia State say the military in particular and other security agencies are still on red alert,  especially at checkpoints within the state capital and other parts, even as the level of tension generated by the killing is ostensibly decreasing.

Our correspondent reports from Umuahia that certain security measures are still in place in the city, such as commuters, irrespective of their status, with the exclusion of the aged and persons with disability, being ordered to disembark from their means of transport while crossing some military checkpoints.

Such commuters, mostly youth and middle-aged, are ordered to raise their hands above their heads, while motorcycle riders are required to push them while crossing.

The location of the attack and its environs, which used to have high commercial activities, have yet to return to normal.

Reports of arrests of the suspected attackers, including members of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network by the security agencies have not been made public.

IPOB members are no longer seen in public; their usual open meeting places are now deserted, while their voices and supporters’ voices are no longer heard on phone-in radio programmes.

The Abia State government announced a N25 million bounty on attackers immediately after the incident and increased the bounty to N30 million last week.

There have been continued condemnation of the act and calls for the arrest of the attackers from various segments across the state.

In Imo State, incidents of killing and attacks on security operatives by alleged members of the IPOB/ESN have greatly reduced.

A top military operative who spoke on condition of anonymity said the repeated raids by the Joint Task Force of Operation Udo Ke (OPUK) on the Mother Valley in Orsu Ihitteukwa, the boundary between Anambra and Imo states, had greatly affected the activities of the proscribed group.

According to the source, the group has been degraded in Imo, and its activities were reduced to the barest minimum because the supreme headquarters, popularly called the Mother Valley base, was displaced.

Further, the military operations conducted in Ezioha in Mbaitoli local government area resulted in the death of some top commanders of the group, which largely frustrated the members and forced them to flee to neighbouring states where insurgent activities recently spiked, according to the source.

LEADERSHIP Sunday investigations showed a sharp reduction in criminal activities like kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.

Incidents of random shootings and killings in the state have reduced, safe for communities with internal skirmishes while nightlife is gradually returning to Owerri, the state capital.

Meanwhile, the hoisting of IPOB flags on major roads and streets has greatly reduced, as well as the flying of colours, which may be due to a massive crackdown on members.

An Owerri resident, Philip Emeka, said the Monday sit-at-home cycle had greatly reduced across the state as many communities have resumed business activities.

A community leader who pleaded anonymity said since the military operations in Ihitteukwa, life had gradually returned to their village, adding that several people were yet to return but that the locals had resumed farming.

The national coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said military-civil relations need urgent improvement.

He said it had become necessary to remind the Nigerian military hierarchy that continuous dialogues to strengthen understanding between the military and civilians is not just an option but a legal obligation.

He said since the last year of the present government, the relevant departments within the institutions mandated to promote civil and military relations had gone into dysfunctionality.

In Ebonyi State, there has been a heavy presence of the combined team of soldiers, police,  DSS and Civil Defence Corps who constantly patrol  major roads within and outside the state capital.

There has also been a heavy presence of security operatives along the ever-busy Enugu-Abakaliki Road, Afikpo-Abakaliki Road and the Trans-African Sarah Highway, with military and police checkpoints at strategic locations.

Residents woke up recently to observe that the military checkpoint at Ishieke axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki Express road has been dismantled, leaving only the one at the Ezzamgbo axis of the express road. Motorists and commenters who ply the express road are always encouraged to ply the route following the heavy presence of the military along the axis.

With the checkpoint dismantled it is believed that the Ishieke axis of the express road is now porous, and commuters and other road users are left to their faith. Ebonyi State, despite the occasional attacks on police divisions and checkpoints by suspected hoodlums, is still regarded as the safest state in the South East region.

Governor Francis Nwifuru assured residents of the protection of lives and property and distributed vehicles to security agencies, which constantly engage in shows of force to reassure residents of their safety.

Though despite the heavy security presence in Onicha local government area, suspected hoodlums allegedly enforcing the Monday sit at home order shot and killed one Hon. Stanley Akpa Nweze, the councilor representing Enuagu ward in Onicha Legislative Council and one Arinze Joshua Ugochukwu, the coordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Onicha chapter.

Many residents have called for the restoration of the military checkpoint at the Ishieke axis of the Enugu-Abakaliki Express road. The residents maintained that the presence of the military at the checkpoint reduced the high level kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities along the axis.

In Enugu, our correspondent noticed  an unusually heavy security presence in some areas.

Although Enugu is the headquarters of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, our correspondent did not notice unusual movement of troops in Enugu after the murder of the soldiers.

However, it was gathered that some Biafra agitators who gather daily at Edinburgh and other areas in Enugu to discuss the Biafra course have deserted the areas.

A resident of Obiagu, Mr Obinna Ibekwe who spoke to our correspondent on the murder of the soldiers at Abia, described the action of the suspected IPOB fighters as callous.

A mild drama occurred a day after the murder of the soldiers when some Biafra agitators took to their heels on sighting some soldiers.

The soldiers went to Edinburgh to carry out some printing works and not to make any arrests, but the agitators took to their heels.

There has not been any sign of threat by the military in any part of Anambra State to avenge the killing of soldiers in Aba.

Findings by LEADERSHIP Sunday from across the state, especially at the various military checkpoints including in the major cities of Awka, the state capital; Onitsha the state’s commercial hub; Nnewi the industrial town, and, Ekwulobia showed there has not been any sign by the military to attack any resident or pass-by as a retaliation for the killing of soldiers.

Similarly, there has not been any complaint from residents about any attack by soldiers in a manner that could suggest that they were avenging the Aba killing.