Thousands of Awka indigenes including stakeholders on Wednesday, 29th, 2024 lamented over the endless killings going on within the metropolis.
News Echo reports that Awka and its environs had been witnessing violence killings and other crimes in recent time which had led to the death of over ine hundred persons since December 2023 to May, 2024
Speaking during the welcome address, the Convener, House of Assembly member representing Awka Constituency 1, Hon Nigeria Henry Mbachu said the essence of the summit was to bring in critical stakeholders, community leaders and security experts to brainstorm on the menace of Cult related killings in Awka kingdom and proffer lasting solutions.
“Some of our cultural and traditional rites in awka have been carried out in far away cities due to the insecurity and destruction of properties, our brothers and sisters now seek refuge in hotels and neighbouring communities for the sake of being alive”.
He emphasised that over fifty six gates have been installed in strategic places and the services of over eight security outfits employed yet the problem have not been solved.
Former Guber Candidate in the last 2024 election, Valentine Ozigbo expressed displeasure over government inability to curb the increasing spate of killing in the state capital.
“If you want to solve any problem, identifying the problem is already half the solution, when you simply deal with the symptoms and not the root cause that means you have failed in solving the problem. Today we have gathered in Awka because of the incessant banditry, kidnapping, killing, cultism that has taken lives, statistics read out there show that 34 persons have been shot dead within a month. There is no sense of urgency or emergency that’s living in denial”.
“I urge the government of Anambra state to take full account that security is our number one priority. Lamentations from people in diaspora is on insecurity. We have to deal with this issue by looking out the economic, criminality angle to it and we also need to do things as a state, as a region and also look at how we can collaborate with the entire nation innsolvongnthe problem. I am happy that alot of security experts are there to make something out of it”.
Also speaking via zoom, Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district, Sir Victor Umeh, argued that the Igbo nation were not known for wasting human blood, hence the need for all hands to be on deck bring a lasting solution to insecurity innthe state.
“Awka is blessed as every town made capital city of a state. I urge you to secure your land so that the residents and strangers can live happily. and their business thrive. Do Awka well so that everyone will come to invest. No one likes to invest in insecure environment,” he stated.
Member representing Awka North and Awka South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Lilian Orogbu, expressed sadness over numerous killings in the state capital which had forced many scholars and experts to shun invitations to programmes, reminding them that it could turn Awka into a glorified village if left unresolved.
In his part, the Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze, represented by the Majority Leader, Mr Ikenna Ofodoeme, expressed optimism that cult related crisis would become a thing of past once the executive fully implement anticult law already passed by the legislature.
According to Udeze, the bill stipulated relevant punishment and sanctions to cultists, including their friends, sponsors, landlords, producers and marketers of riffles, owners of vehicles or premises used for cult related activities and whoever showed up as witness or signatory to meet their bail conditions.
“I thank Hon. Mbachu for taking this bold step. And I am calling on other lawmakers to organise similar security summit in their constituency to chat way forward because security of lives and property is everyone concern,” he noted.
Contributing, the Archbishop of Province on the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Alexander Ibezim, represented by Canon Edwin Enemo; two prominent natives of Awka, Mr Bennett Okoye and Mr Chukwudi Mougbo, identified poor parenting, drugs addiction, quest for power, lack of education and joblessness as among the reasons behind rise in insecurity in Awka.
On their parts, the Secretary, Ọzọ titled holders society in Awka, Ọzọ Ndụ Nwakalor, said they have already ruled out that any of their members whoever engages in cultism directly or indirectly, including by ways of sponsorship or acting as witness to secure bail condition for a cultist would be detitled, banned and excommunicated forever.
Mr Mogor Chukwudi, aka Mogyto, from Umu Ukwa village in his speech accused the parents of showing nonchalant attitude to their children, poor parental care and drug abuse as the main problem that have continued to lead these youths into such act.
He called on parents, particularly mothers to train in a way to spare the child and spoil the rod child. “Ensure that he or she gets vocational skills if not in school for studies”
Some of the Awka Development Union branch presidents, President General Okpuno Community, Legal expert, Raphael Onwurah, Ken Chukwurah, lagos based Awka indigene, Kenneth Nzekwe, leader Women wing, Barr Oge Ekweozor urged the residents, indigenes and community leaders to mobilise action towards bringing cult war and other forms of criminality to an end
