TheCable

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, a non-governmental organisation, says it is time to rescue Imo state from insecurity.

In a statement on Wednesday,
Emeka Umeagbalasi, board chairman of the organisation, condemned the “heightening political banditry” in the state ahead of the governorship election.

The state governorship poll will take place on November 11.

“It shocks and saddens our heart that the state is dangerously or gravely going through political gangsterism, killings, abductions, disappearances, house burnings and other property violence,” he said.

“We are also deeply concerned regarding the intensification of terror in the state to the extent that over half of the state’s 27 local government areas and most of their ‘autonomous communities’ are under security siege.”

The group urged “democratic forces” to rescue the state from insecurity.

“The democratic forces in Imo including uncompromised CSO and media leaders or activists must be worried and concerned by ongoing political defections and killings, maiming, abductions, disappearances and violence,” he said.

“The leaderships of leading parties like APGA, PDP and Labour Party must live above board, shun transactional/money politics and join hands to rescue Imo state.

“Political defections in Nigeria have rubbished and messed up the country’s leading political actors and ruined their characters and integrity.”