TheCable

Anya-Ndi-Igbo, a non-partisan Igbo group, says the depth of insecurity in the south-east is becoming unbearable.

The group, in a statement dated December 27, said it is the primary responsibility of the government to protect the lives and property of the people in the geopolitical zone.

Anya-Ndi-Igbo urged the south-east governors to make security the topmost priority of their administrations.

“Generally, Nigerians from all works of life are facing the biggest threat to their lives and livelihoods. The framers of our Nigerian Constitution starting from the 1999 constitution to the last amendment, foresaw today. This explains their provision of the primary duty of government as protection of lives and property,” the statement reads.

“It is, therefore, the inalienable right and entitlement of every Nigerian to benefit from the primary duty of government to protect lives and property. In recent years and particularly in the past three years, the scale and depth of insecurity in the South East has become unbearable.

“Terrorist-type invasions accompanied with massacre and sacking of entire communities, which are hardly countered by Federal and States Governments have become a common feature of the region. Other types of merchants of crime, violence and torture have joined the rampage, thereby creating hell on earth for residents and travellers in the region.

“ANYA-NDI-IGBO advises South East Governors to go the extra mile in addressing security challenges and make security the topmost priority of their administration in order to reverse the current ugly trend. They should use all legitimate powers to stabilise and secure their States from further descent into chaos and work with federal authorities to restore normalcy.

“We encourage the Federal Government to open their doors for engagement and dialogue with all Agitation Groups as a way of understanding what the issues are and to resolve the genuine cases.

“We request the Federal Government to put all relevant measures in place to ensure that there is peace and Nigerians are protected as they come out to vote in 2023.”

Gunmen believed to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) carried out a series of attacks on facilities of the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the course of the year.

The sit-at-home orders of IPOB also resulted in incidents of violence and attacks on residents of the geopolitical zone.