Release Kanu unconditionally for peace in SE -Reps C’ttee chair
By Tom Okpe
House of Representatives may have taken the lead to see that peace returns to the South-East zone with a top lawmaker yesterday insisting that violence will cease in the once calm zone if the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is unconditionally released.
He also implored the Federal Government (FG) to reintegrate the zone into the national scheme of things and terminate its perceived exclusion through acknowledgement of the rule of law and justice.
Most of the charges for which Kanu is being held have been discharged by the courts in the land with the Appeal Court in particular directly pronouncing judgment in his favour and asking the FG to release him.
The House of Representatives had previously pledged to intervene in the Kanu matter before commencing its ongoing recess, following a similar demand through a motion, but no action has been taken in that regard.
Yesterday,Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee set up to engage with relevant security agencies and address the rampant cases of kidnapping, assassinations and banditry in Isuikwuato,Umunneochi Local Government Area (LGA) and surroundings of Abia State, Rep. Obinna Aguocha, took a definitive stand on the solution to the bloodbath in the South-East.
He said: “For absolute peace, reduction of crime and criminality, investment in meaningful infrastructure development, ending the counter-productive sit-at-home actions, and improving economic growth and opportunities in the Southeast, it starts with the government’s acknowledgment of the rule of law, justice, and equitable inclusion of the Southeast zone in the Nigerian project, as well as the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from unlawful detention, to ensure enduring peace and security in the entire region.”
The Committee chair made the statement during the Committee’s resumed hearing.
Rep. Aguocha stated: “As we navigate the complexities of security concerns, we must also be prepared to address the root causes of these issues at their core, and work towards lasting solutions that will endure over time.”
Aguocha further noted: “The challenges we face are not mere statistics or headlines; they are real-life manifestations that impact the lives of our people, disrupt the functioning of our institutions and communities, thereby hindering the growth of our region.”
According to the lawmaker, instances of criminal activities, banditry, kidnapping, assassinations, communal and religious clashes, and threats to life have shaken the very foundation of societies in the zone.
The Chairman added: “As leaders and stakeholders, it is incumbent upon us to come together, transcending our differences, to find sustainable solutions that will quell these threats and pave the way for a brighter future.
“We recognize that insecurity cannot be tackled by a single entity alone; it requires a collective, multi-faceted approach that encompasses various perspectives and expertise, including law enforcement agencies, community leaders, policymakers, scholars, and citizens.”
He emphasized that ongoing engagement will provide an opportunity to gather diverse perspectives and channel them into coherent, actionable strategies for peace.
Continuing, the lawmaker said: “The cross-border dynamics of the primary focus areas add an extra layer of complexity to the challenges ahead.
“The shared common borders with four other states connect the primary focus areas to Ebonyi State via Isiagu, Enugu State via Agwu, Imo State via Okigwe, and Anambra State via Awka.
“The chance for interstate collaboration presents itself and must be explored to foster regional participation.
“By synergizing our resources, expertise, and perspectives, we can create a stronger front against insecurity and strengthen the bonds that unite us.”
The Committee applauded the efforts of state governments in the South-East as well as the FG for demonstrating commitment to peace and security in the zone.
The Committee outlined several strategies including security agency collaboration, a clear strategy for inter-government joint task collaboration, a clear strategy for community engagement pathways, and the determination of short-term and long-term implementation milestones.
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Sponsor of the motion that led to the establishment of the committee, Rep. Amobi Ogah, accused the police of using multiple checkpoints in the South-East to extort innocent citizens, rather than conducting operations in the bushes and forests to apprehend criminals as directed by the House through its earlier resolution.
Rep. Ogah stated that of all the requests made, including the creation of a joint security task force to comb the bushes, nothing has been done.
Instead, multiple checkpoints have been set up, which he termed embarrassing, while cases of kidnapping continue to rise.
To address this situation, the Chairman of the committee called for a closed-door session with the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Kenechukwu Onwumelie, to brief the committee.
