- By Chukwuemeka S. Ifemekwe
Sir: Although Anambra state is unsafe because of general insecurity of lives and property, more than a decade has seen lots of kidnappings and road-robberies at Nkwelle-Ezunaka. Is Nkwelle Ezunaka a town to be avoided by people, feared or dreaded, given the strings of kidnappings, and robberies that have bedevilled that part of the state for some time now?
Indeed, this is a question that the entire community – starting from the Igwe in Council, the town’s President General (PG) to the last person in the town – should be able to answer or at least ponder. This perilous situation, if left unaddressed, could equal what has been going on at Ihiala, Okija, Azia, Orsumoghu and environs in recent times.
Have there been kidnappings and killings at Nkwelle Ezunaka in the past and of recent? Who are the culprits and perpetrators? Who are their enablers? Who are their victims?
It is unsurprising that many residents and visitors have been leaving Nkwelle-Ezunaka to other safer towns and neighbouring states over the past few months and even now. Most of the people leave to save their lives and those of their family members. Also, some others do so partly under the impression and allegation that a few devious indigenes who sell their lands to unsuspecting investors, connive with criminals or secretly collude with kidnappers to molest, kidnap and perhaps get their money doubly back from their innocent clients. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know whether this allegation, claim or impression is true or false, especially, when kidnappings, killings and robberies have continued unabated or insufficiently checked by the entire town, and particularly by the vigilantes. The only solution is for the town’s union to declare a zero tolerance on kidnappings and robberies at Nkwelle-Ezunaka. The same should apply to every town in Anambra State.
The natives and indigenes of this otherwise good town should figure out how best to address this searing problem expeditiously to abate and dowse people’s fears and worries.
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I make bold to stress that Nkwelle-Ezunaka natives must do something without delay to clean up their undeserving and ill-attained notoriety as potential captains of kidnapping and killing in that part of Anambra State. Everything must be done rapidly by the natives to show the public that Nkwelle-Ezunaka is a good town that is welcoming to visitors and people of goodwill who intend to live, invest, promote or help the indigenes further its development as an emerging and promising business city in Anambra State. They must show that Nkwelle-Ezunaka is safe and secure for motorists, travellers and passers-by. They must do something quickly to correct this trending and viral impression as only a mistaken identity.
One wonders if the local vigilantes, conferred with the responsibility of protecting lives and property, have any good news or message to share with the public to regain public trust, if there is still any. They must show that none of them has a hand in kidnapping, robbery or car-snatching. These heinous crimes and nefarious practices, especially kidnappings, have since affected motorists who ply key Nkwelle-Ezunaka roads for business, personal, professional function or pleasure. If these crimes are left immediately unchecked, it may soon become almost impossible to travel from Onitsha to Awka or Enugu through Nkwelle-Ezunaka without running into kidnappers, armed robbers or car-snatchers, who prowl and roam in vehicles looking for their preys and victims.
Because of the serious nature of kidnappings going on in this part of the state, it is high time the federal and state governments intervened urgently. It is imperative that they heavily engage the presence of the military, the mobile or secret police who can effectively do their job both in official and civilian uniforms to save lives and property not only at Nkwelle-Ezunaka but also in the entire Anambra State. While it is long overdue for relevant security agents to raid every bush, forest and jungle in Nkwelle-Ezunaka and other dangerous areas in the state, vigilantes of every town in the state should also be more organized, well-coordinated and sincerely committed to do a better job without frauds.
While every town knows how best to put an end to kidnappings, robberies and killings in their lands, vigilantes in Anambra State should work as a team, gather and share intelligence together but free of sabotage. Above all, they should be sufficiently equipped, mandated and compelled as soon as possible by the government to openly and frequently range corners, rove the roads and patrol the streets. This measure will particularly help them reassure Nkwelle-Ezunaka indigenes, visitors and travellers of security and safety. Most importantly, the same approach will also help rid towns in Anambra State of unscrupulous and villainous elements.
•Chukwuemeka S. Ifemekwe,
Lagos