By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Igbo leaders on Tuesday uncharacteristically pushed back when the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Adamu, told them to caution members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on their activities in the Southeast.
The admonition was at the Anambra State Security Summit, which held on Tuesday at the women’s Development Center in Awka
Adamu who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of finance and administration, Joseph Egbunike, warned Ndigbo that freedom will not be achieved through violent means, adding that the emerging trend of killing policemen and burning police stations will no longer be tolerated.
But Anambra State traditional rulers, led by Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, told the IGP that talking about IPOB and ESN when herdsmen were allowed to carry AK -47 without any restraint amounted to double standards.
All the monarchs including Igwe Godwin Ezeilo of Nanka in Orumba North local government area and Igwe Christopher Okpala Akwaeze from Anaocha local government area, said herdsmen had taken over their land and were security risks to their subjects including the women.
Also, the Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, while addressing the security agencies, the monarchs, Town Union presidents, Ohanaeze leadership and youths said itinerant herdsmen would no longer be allowed into any community in the State.
Obiano, said anything about security was number one for his administration, adding that without security, “you are dead on arrival.”
However, he commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo, security operatives, the youths and monarchs for the collective efforts in making sure Anambra remains the safest state in the country.
He said, “Communal clashes are as dangerous as herdsmen. We are going to organize a census for the herdsmen who operate in our state to know how many they are and they will be meeting with the leadership of every community where they operate.
“After the census, we are not going to allow itinerant herdsmen into our state. Any herdsman with gun is a criminal and we will not allow that.
“They are the people that kill, rape our women in the society. We are going to position the military, police in Omor, Ayamelum, Orumba areas and other communities where they cause havoc in the state to curtail their excesses,” Obiano said.
But the IGP, who commended Obiano for his support to security agencies in Anambra, said certain things should not be allowed to happen in Anambra.
“There are emerging trends in this area, like killing of policemen and burning police stations in the state. They go with different names and such things don’t happen in the West,” the IGP insisted.
“No freedom movement has ever succeeded through violent means. As stations are burnt, our sons and daughters are being killed and anarchy is brewing.
“Those who call themselves IPOB or Eastern Security Network ESN, who are being deceived and misguided, should always consult the elders for directions. And we want to be president, is that how to achieve it? It is a big challenge to Ndigbo.
“What are our leaders and intellectuals doing to checkmate the current trend? We are ready to maintain the peace in this state. We are not going to keep quite to allow things go awry.”
