Enugu state security outfit, Forest Guard, which has been operating since last year has been able to checkmate the incidences of kidnapping and rape in the state as CHUKS NWEZE reports.
The security situation in Nigeria is today a concern to everybody. It has become so grim that the presidency expressed shock at the extent, hence the president constituted a committee that would address the security challenges in the country recently.
From Enugu to Lagos, Owerri to Adamawa and beyond, the story is the same as Nigeria faces a serious security challenge.
For instance, at the moment, it is a nightmare for someone to travel by road from Abuja to Kaduna for fear of being kidnapped. Those who could afford air transportation resort to going by air rather than take the roads and fall into the hands of either armed robbers or kidnappers who stop at nothing to harm the hapless Nigerian citizens.
Without over over-emphasising the terrible state insecurity has posed in the country, a serving senator moved on the floor of the upper legislative chamber calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign and relinquish his position as Commander-in-chief because the security situation has turned unbearable.
Before now, the country was bedeviled with a precarious security situation such that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo asserted that there was an underground plan under the present administration to carry out what he called a Fulanisation agenda in Nigeria.
However, the assertion did not go well with some Nigerians especially among some northern elites who spoke against Obasanjo for his temerity to fan what they called embers of disunity. They however failed to address the worsening security situation as herdsmen who have been causing mayhem in various parts of the country by killing and people continued in their ‘madness’.
Sometime in 2019 at Nchatancha, Nike, in Enugu state, a widow went to the farm and herdsmen killed her on her farm. This elicited outcry at various quarters, yet the problem is far from over.
Because of all these, many saw what Obasanjo said as representing the view of many Nigerians that there is indeed a problem with the country while the federal government that controls the security apparatus was not doing enough to protect the citizens.
The dreaded Boko Haram which the government had given the impression that it has been decimated is still very much around and dealing sporadic blows to the soldiers sent to curtail them.
A coalition of civil society organisations in the South-east recently embarked on a protest rally in support of Senator Abaribe’s call on the president to resign. Leader of the coalition who is also the convener of Voice from the East, (VEAST) Comrade Kindness Jonah, who addressed journalists in Enugu after the rally reeled out examples of insecurity threats such as the Fulani herdsmen menace and the Boko Haram that have continued to plague the nation without any commensurate action by the federal government to solve the situation.
Spurred by the challenge, governors of the South-west recently set up their own security outfit called Amotekun to handle the internal security of the geopolitical zone. They felt that the security agencies can no longer protect their people, hence the decision to float their own security outfit. In spite of the hues and cries from some quarters, especially by government officials, about the legality of the outfit, the South-west leaders are bent on going ahead with their pet project which is part of the community policing as guaranteed in the constitution.
When the governors in S/E woke from slumber
As if in consonance with the South-west leaders, the chairman of South East Governors Forum, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state, in late January announced that the South-east geopolitical zone is equally working out plans to float its own security outfit to safeguard the lives and property of the people of the region.
Umahi who disclosed this when the General Officer Commanding, GOC of the 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Gen. Lasisi Adegboye, visited him at Government House, Abakaliki said that it would be a joint security outfit for the entire states in the zone since one security challenge in any of the states could affect the other states.Umahi, who did not give the name of the joint security force, posited that the outfit is to protect the people from the menace of Fulani herdsmen and to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
The announcement was not new as Umahi had earlier announced during a meeting of the governors and Igbo leaders in Enugu in July last year that they were setting up a joint security outfit.
As a matter of fact, a security committee made up of retired army, navy and police personnel was then constituted. The outfit is to be headed by a retired Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo, among other persons.
At the meeting, Umahi also announced that in addition to setting up the security outfit, they would embark on aerial surveillance of forests in the region.
He said, “We agreed that a joint air operation to flush out bandits from all forests in South- east is to be continuous. Every region has their own peculiarities and we are putting things together because we had a joint meeting with all the service chiefs and the governors. We discussed and agreed on what we need to do to continue to give safety to our people.
“No one will say that he is not part of the joint security because when people are kidnapped for example in Anambra state, they could be found in Ebonyi. So, we need that synergy to work together to give protection to everybody.”With the pronouncement coming from the chairman of the forum, the stage is set for a new zonal security outfit akin to Amotekun. Already, people are beginning to suggest a name suitable for the proposed security outfit but have not reached any agreement for now.
Ohanaeze speaks up
Factional youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Christopher Isiguzoro, has already commended Umahi and the governors for coming up with the security measure, pointing out that individual security outfits were restricted by state boundaries which made it difficult in curbing inter and intra state crimes committed by miscreants – kidnappers, bandits and herdsmen.
It said, “Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) urges the South-east governors to inculcate all stakeholders across the board into the regional security outfit as we believe that Amotekun was copied from the original ideas of South- east security outfit which was designed by The South-east governors like Amotekun.
“OYC advocates the inclusion of Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch, Enugu Forest Guard, Abia Homeland Security Outfit and the dreaded Bakassi Boys.”
Forest Guard to the rescue
Prior to the announcement of the joint security outfit for the entire South-east, the governors had agreed to set up Forest Guards in the states in conformity with community policing agenda of the federal government.
Immediately the idea of the Forest Guards was muted, Enugu state government did not waste time but set machineries in motion by immediately recruiting able-bodied youths to scout the forests with the aim of checking security challenges.
The government of Enugu state did not drag its feet on the ground as it immediately equipped the Forests Guards with equipment and materials for the job. Already, the Forest Guards have started receiving their remunerations.
“The Forest Guards are working in Enugu,” a government official told Blueprint. A leader of neighbourhood watch in one of the communities disclosed that the Forests Guards have their uniforms and their salaries have been paid for three months now.
“As we speak now, the Forest Guards have started work. Government gave them the necessary equipment and logistics to work with. They have vehicles and security gadgets with which to work with,” the leader disclosed.
This could be felt because since the establishment of the Forest Guards in Enugu by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the security challenges seem to have abated because kidnapping, herdsmen menace seem to be on the decline. Governor Ugwuanyi, indeed, proved to be a man of action because as soon as the governors agreed to set up Forest Guards, he did not waste time but put machinery in motion. Today, with the combination of security agencies, the neighbourhood watch organisations and the Forest guards, Enugu indigenes and residents are now moving about freer than before.
“Governor Ugwuanyi has tried for the state in terms of security and fighting crimes. Look at the vehicles he donated to various security agencies in the state and also provided vehicles and equipment to the Forest Guards and neighborhood watch groups. He even gave bicycles so that areas motor vehicles find difficult, the bicycles would penetrate. He has really tried in this area,” a 69-year-old, Bartholomew Ede, said.
