Youths of Imo West(Orlu) Senatorial District of Imo State have called on all stakeholders in the area to join hands to ensure the restoration of peace and security in the zone.
The group under the aegis of Orluzurumee Youths made the call in a communique issued at the end of her National Executive Council, NEC, and Security/Economic Summit Committee meeting held at the weekend in Owerri.
The apex socio-cultural youth organization in Orlu Zone noted with dismay the disturbing security situation in the zone where Governor Hope Uzodinma comes from pointing out that the situation if unchecked will go out of hand.
The document signed by Don Uba, Chairman Security/ Economic Summit Committee, Barrister Nonyelum Agim, Secretary, Security/Economic Summit, Committee, Prince Arthur Madumere, National President and Comrade Desmond T. Ugwumba, National Secretary disclosed that the group had in the last nine (9) months, they have understudied the remote and immediate causes of the violence that had engulfed Orlu Zone wherein Orlu/Orsu/Oru-East Federal Constituency has been the theatre of the violence.
Read Also: Protest in India after student commits suicide
The youths identified lack of communication, interaction, unnecessary provocations and lack of political will have been their bane and faulted the security operatives for not adhering to the rules of engagement.
The communique read, “The security agencies in this regard are not acting based on the laid down rules of engagement, a situation which has caused a sharp divide between them and the masses. In lieu of this, the masses seem to be more comfortable with the non-state actors than the state actors.”
They also blamed the government as well as political and religious leaders for failure to follow the security breaches holistically insisting that had they done the needful and nipped the challenge in the bud, the situation would not have degenerated to the present worrisome level.
“The crises as we all can testify have grounded most activities in Orlu Zone. Mostly affected are social, religious as well as business activities. Of a truth, these have negatively affected the psyche of every individual in the zone. The situation has made us not to value the sacredness of life anymore and the worst hit area is the Orlu Federal Constituency,” Uba declared.
Continuing, the group said, “We have marshalled out working solutions to the violence whereby reputable religious leaders shall midwife the mediation, reconciliation and peace accord. Nomination of members of the sub-committee shall also consist of notable youths drawn from across the zone irrespective of political inclinations and creed while all representatives from the zone will play advisory roles.”
They advised that some restive youths who may have been acting out of provocations or ignorance should be engaged for peace immediately without further delay and urged criminal elements as a result of the insecurity to desist forthwith.
On the side of the security agencies, the youths enjoined the operatives to halt violent operations to enable the proposed amnesty of the government to work, just as they called on the governor of the state, who they described as their father and brother, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma, “to walk the talk and abate threats while seeking for peace since there is mutual suspicion in the air.
“Some of our appointed or elected representatives at various levels of political offices are believed to be sponsoring these atrocities as most of them, even after several approaches, are not ready to cooperate with us in search of solutions toward tackling insecurity in Orlu zone. Soon, we will publish their names and our suspicion about their involvements.
“Orluzurumee Youths have made concerted efforts before now to parley with them on ways to abate the security challenges in our zone, but they neglected to give us audience. It is unfortunate but expected. However, we will not, because of the few bad elements, avoid doing the needful for the sake of posterity bearing in mind that the law of karma serves everyone accordingly.
“Government of the day has the onerous task of bringing back relative peace in our area if she will be courageous enough to take up her responsibilities and to achieve our collective aims, there must be a compromise from all angles. The time to do it is now.”
