To reduce crime and violence which bedevil Imo State and other parts of South East, Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Raymond Tingua Utsaha, has said that the command will synergize with National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
The Commander who stated this when he received in audience executive members of NYCN who paid the command a familiarisation visit on Wednesday, said the military is ready to work in synergy with the youth of Imo State if they are ready to work with the army by doing the right thing especially by exposing criminals as well as providing valid information about the activities and hideouts of hoodlums to the appropriate authority or to the military for more action.
Utsaha maintained that “the military is ready to work with the youth through NYCN so far as you are ready to work with us. If you are not ready to corporate with us, we will continue to work the way we work. NYCN should do more to support the military to stop crime and banditry. Youths are the ones committing crimes. Go back to the communities and tell your youths to stop committing crimes. Synergy between military and NYCN will improve effective communication in the fight against insecurity in Imo State. Hence volunteer relevant information to the army to help us more”.
Earlier, the Imo State Chapter Chairman of NYCN, Barr. Comr. Ezinwanne Chimuanya Udoka, told the Commander that the purpose of their visit was to seek partnership with the army in the fight against insecurity, frowning against the alleged killing of innocent people by the military, the DSS and the police in the South East and South South regions.
According to the council, “we are calling on army to be mindful not to kill, arrest nor maim innocent civilians particularly youths whenever there is any uproar or attack on military facility or on personnel whether in the rural areas or in the state. The first thing is to do thorough investigation so that the real culprit is captured and brought to book. We are also assuring you from the youth angle that whatever information available to us, we will make sure we make it available to the army. That is also an area of partnership”.
Meanwhile, the council had participated in a one day sensitization program organized by National Orientation Agency held at Government Secondary School Owerri on Tuesday with the Owerri Zonal Vice Chairman, Comr. Opara Justice stating that police brutality on innocent people mainly the youth is alarming, calling on police chiefs in Imo State to quickly address the issue before the youth start defending themselves against attack and intimidation.
