Insecurity: Anambra community deploys soldiers to protect people

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By Madu Obi

Following the activities of gunmen who have camped in one of the forests in Nimo, Njikoka local government area of Anambra State, the cabinet of the Igwe -in -council of the community has deployed soldiers in the area to ensure the safety of their people returning for the Christmas celebration.

The people discovered recently that there has been frequent kidnapping and killing of people, particularly in the bush along Nimo - Neni road, a development that has made many residents to run away from the community.

Worried that their people might be scared to return home for Christmas, the Igwe -in -Council approved the deployment of the soldiers who now parade the entire community 24 hours everyday.

Apparently debunking the allegation by the leader of the youths in the community that the soldiers were brought to kill them, the palace security coordinator, Mr. Stephen Gbulie told reporters that the military was specifically invited to provide security in the area, adding that they neither mount checkpoints, nor harass anybody.

According to him,it was not the decision of the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Maxi Ike Oliobi, but that of the elders of the community.

Gbulie said: "The military was brought in because of the heightened insecurity in Nimo where unknown gunmen came and camped in the community from where they attack and kidnap people.

In recent weeks, three persons were attacked. One of them is Sunday Olisa who was shot by the gunmen and, as he was trying to drive fast away from them, his vehicle fell into a ditch and he abandoned the car and escaped.

Before the decision to bring in the military, the gunmen kidnapped someone at Egbengwu Nimo and he paid N7 million ransom before he was released. They have also been writing threat letters to some individuals in Nimo, including a man resident in South Africa who they ordered to buy guns for them, otherwise they would burn down his house in the village. There was also Ndubuisi Obi who was given a threat letter.

Because of the insecurity in the community, many people started coming to the palace to ask our traditional ruler if he was not aware of the activities of the gunmen, especially as the Christmas is approaching.

Some of our sons and daughters living abroad who are already in the town had to run away when they learnt that gunmen have camped here.

The reason for bringing the soldiers is to enable our people celebrate peaceful Christmas, but the unfortunate thing is that some of our people are conniving with the gunmen to perpetrate evil.

We have reported the situation in our community to the state government and security agencies because we do not have the capacity to confront deadly gunmen."