By Okey Maduforo Awka.
There is growing controversy over the alleged harassment and intimidation of residents of Nnobi in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state.
This is coming as the Chairman of Idemili South local government area Iyom Amaka Obi described the allegations as false contending that the security challenges in he local government area demand an enhancement to check mate incidents of killing and kidnapping.
According to the allegations by a group known as Nnobi Security Trust Management Committee headed by John Nwosu ;
“The recent introduction of an unidentified vigilante group in Nnobi camped at Ifite Village Hall and allegedly orchestrated by the local government incoming chairman and an accomplice in the person of Chairman of Ifite Nnobi
Mr Obioma Izuegbunam sent shockwaves throughout the community over the Asha Olú Festival till yesterday 2nd October”
“This brazen presence of the unnamed group which did not only undermined the authority of the Igwe of Nnobi who is the Chief Security Officer but also that of the Divisional Police Officer of Nnobi Police Division who were both not informed of their Presence posed a significant threat to peace and security in Nnobi and environs”
“The absence of transparency regarding the vigilante group’s presence raises concerns about their true intentions and accountability since Ndi Nnobi noticed their presence it has been illegal arrests, harassment and extortions reported across Nnobi.
Yesterday the group arrested an Ichie of Nnobi Chief Ifeanyi Obichukwu who was coming home from his early morning voyage to a client’s under his herbal medicine practice and extorted the sum of #100,000 thousand naira; we call on the new Local government Chairperson Mrs Amaka Obi to get the money back from the group”
Vigilantism if not well handled in transparency, has led to human rights abuses and further destabilization of already volatile Peace in our locality The fact that this group was brought in without notifying the Nnobi chief security officer and law enforcers is a clear indication of the incoming LGA Chairmans disregard for established authority, protocols and processes.
We urge a thorough
Investigation into the Idemili South Local Govt Chairman’s actions and motivations for bringing unnamed security vigilante into Nnobi without proper recourse to established security Protocols of introducing their presence to Igwe Nnobi and DPO Nnobi”he said.
Reacting to the report the Chairman of the local government area Iyom Amaka Obi said.
“This is political motivated because some people don’t like good governance and because we have security challenges in this part of my local government area the Solution Strike Force was brought in by the State government to battle insecurity there”
“I just won and electric and got sworn in just recently so how could I have sent them there ?”
“I wish to state that there some people that have been sabotaging what we are doing in Idemili South local government area and we cannot afford to allow the security of Idemili South to collapse because of some political jobbers who a playing politics with the lives of our people ” she said.
