By Chuks Eke
Social critic, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq. has observed that the latest security breakthroughs in Enugu State, with the arrest of the commander of a jihadist terror network of Fulani extraction in Enugu State, have once again exposed a deeply disturbing reality which shows that jihadist terrorist networks are establishing hideouts in various forests in Igbo land (Ala-Igbo), stockpiling sophisticated weapons and using difficult terrain as launching pads for kidnapping and other violent crimes.
In a press statement titled: “Ala-Igbo under siege: The forests must no longer be safe havens for jihadist kidnapping networks: How jihadist kidnapping networks are infiltrating Enugu communities and Ala-Igbo in general under the cover of cattle rearing”, Ejiofor recalled that the
recovery of sophisticated firearms and ammunition, and the arrest of those he identified as irredentist jihadist terrorists in coordinated operations by our security agencies, should not be treated as an isolated incident, but as a warning that deserves the most serious attention.
According to Ejiofor, “it may surprise many who are not familiar with the level of infiltration in our various forests by these jihadist terrorists who operate under the guise of cattle rearing and consequently camp in some of our forests, where they use such locations as cover to launch attacks and kidnapping activities against unsuspecting members of the public”.
“In the past, this story might have been suppressed or dismissed as alarmism. Today, however, the repeated discovery of criminal hideouts and the arrest of the commander of these jihadist elements within the Garki axis of Enugu State, an area predominantly regarded as a herders’ settlement, as well as the discovery of arms caches, demonstrate that the security challenge is real and demands a sustained, intelligence-led response”.
“When I raised the alarm sometime ago about the activities of these jihadist marauders who had gradually established themselves in some forest corridors across the South-East and other parts of the country, some doubting Thomases ostensibly undermined the seriousness of the alarm. Reality, unfortunately, has a stubborn way of defeating denial”.
“Kidnapping is now occurring across too many communities, and victims frequently recount encounters with armed men operating from secluded forest locations, who they always mention as Fulani herdsmen. We must confront these facts honestly, while equally acknowledging that criminality must never be attributed to an entire ethnic group or religious community”.
“The enemy is the armed criminal and terrorist, not the innocent citizen who happens to share his ethnicity, occupation or faith”.
“The audacity of these criminals is particularly alarming: they have demonstrated the capacity to penetrate communities, approach vulnerable locations-like churches and market places and target ordinary citizens, including mothers, fathers and children. A forest cannot become a private republic for kidnappers simply because law-abiding citizens are afraid to enter it”.
“The preventive strategy must include sustained intelligence-led operations to locate, dismantle and permanently deny these jihadist terrorist networks the use of forest corridors as safe havens”.
“This is not a campaign against an ethnicity. It is not a campaign against a religion. It is a campaign for the right of every Nigerian to live, farm, worship and travel without falling prey to jihadist criminals”.
He therefore commend Enugu State Government and gallant security agencies for the progress recorded so far, even as he gave a stern warning that these isolated successes are not enough to say that we have arrive, security wise
“This message must therefore be unmistakable. No forest should be a sanctuary for terrorists. No community should be a market place for ransom. No criminal network should be allowed to establish a parallel authority over our people. And no citizen should be compelled to negotiate with criminals for the right to live”.
“Our land belongs to law-abiding citizens. And the responsibility to reclaim it from criminal occupation belongs to the State. The time for denial is over. Ala-Igbo must be safe again.
