Southsouth, separatist agitation and national security Mustapha Temidayo
Deputy Political Editor
The escalating security situation in the Southeast appears to have cast its long shadow on the security situation in the Southsouth, given the historical and cultural links between the two geo-political zones. Four of the six states in the Southsouth were part of the defunct Eastern Region until May 5, 1967, when former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon carved out 12 states from the then four regions, as part of the strategy to counter the rebellion by the then administrator of the Eastern Region, Lt-Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Today, similar separatist unrest in the Southeast has made the region the country’s latest zone of insecurity. The resurgence of the separatist bid stems from a perception that the region is marginalised under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari; particularly the perceived heavy-handed policing by security forces that
The nation’s insecurity is worsening, the challenges are humongous, and the solutions have been elusive so far. The recent escalation of clashes between security agencies and local insurgents in the South East, have heightened the calls for Government to urgently rethink its strategies for combatting the security challenges in Eastern Nigeria and other hotspots like Benue State, where there are killings almost on a daily basis. The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, was not left out, as there was an attempt to assassinate him earlier this year in March, while seven internally displaced persons taking refuge in a Camp in Abagena, Makurdi were murdered last week. Policemen and other security personnel, have also not been spared, as several of them have lost their lives in the violence. At least five Policemen were killed about two weeks ago in Okigwe, Imo State, while others suffered the same fate of death in Rivers State. Norrison Quakers, SAN, Professor Andrew Chukwumerie, SAN
Views: Visits 15 Former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa By Steve Oko Former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has queried the reasonability of the security agencies hunting for suspected members of the Eastern Security Network, ESN in South East while bandits and terrorists are sacking communities in the North and taking over their ancestral land almost unchallenged. Senator Ohuabunwa who spoke on the heels of media reports and confirmations by some Northern governors that terrorists have now taken over many communities in the region seizing people’s wives, said “Nigeria is cruising on a highway to abbys.” He said that hunting for suspected personnel of ESN who are resisting the invasion of Eastern communities by bandits and Killer herdsmen while bandits on killing spree occupy territories raises some curious questions.
How We Broke Into Imo Police Command, Prison, Freed Inmates Arrested ESN Member
SaharaReporters learnt that the suspect, who gave his name only as Andy, alias Japan, was arrested in the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, and confessed to have participated in the April 5 invasion of the two government buildings in the state capital.
by SaharaReporters, New York
May 04, 2021
An operative of the Eastern Security Network, the militant arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra has been arrested by the police, who narrated how he and other members broke into the Imo State Police Command and the Imo State Correctional facility in Owerri, the state capital.
By Caleb Mbah
In 2018 I came back to the Southeast and met a new region. I noticed that every evening, men went about with their resistor radio close to their ears. The Youths listened using their phones, the beer parlours had their radio on, listening to the same voice. House after house it was the same voice. It was the voice of Nnamdi Kanu.
I have never supported the agitation for Biafra. Basically, because I am yet to be convinced that Biafra would bring solutions to our economic and political problems. So, my first response to this situation was to discourage anyone that could listen from believing Nnamdi Kanu. But only few persons listened to me.