Onitsha, commercial nerve of Anambra State, is currently wearing new look in value orientation in line with government’s zero-tolerance to criminality, Correspondent, CHIBUZOR NWACHUKWU, who visited the town, writes
Entering Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, could pose an assault to a first time visitor.
For those coming from Asaba, Delta State, the stress often commenced from River Niger Bridge, occasioned by chaotic traffic jam with street urchins milling around the shanty shops and slums of makeshift motor parks reeking of stench.
The ugly experience, which also covered the livestock market through to the drug market down to the Lagos Motor Park, cut the picture of lawlessness where every manner of brigandage took place.
At its peak, a stranger into Onitsha could easily be noticed by street urchins apparently due to the way he walked pass the dirty water ponds avoiding being splashed mud by unruly commercial bus drivers.
Oblivious of the danger lurking in the dark, a visitor asking for direction risked being manhandled by rough-looking young men speaking in guttural voices. He could also lose his belongings in a flash.
At such moments, raising alarm for help would not be of help, as even the security operatives appeared helpless, given that they could also be victims.
The major flash points, especially Upper Iweka Roundabout, remained deadly at odd hours, given that most bus drivers worked in connivance with criminals.
Nkpor Junction, New Tarzan and New Tyre bus-stops were other bad spots where young men often commenced their day with several bouts of local gin, kai kai, mixed with several wraps of Indian hemp.
They, thereafter, lay in wait for unsuspecting victims who may either lose their GSM phones or money, with security operatives appearing helpless.
Aside criminality, Onitsha spoke volumes in environmental degradation and neglect. In addition to blocked drains, shops were built on flood channels, making rainfall a nightmare in the city.
The markets in Onitsha were not spared the sordid tales.
Everestus Nkwocha, a trader at the Main Market, narrated what he described as hell at the market.
“This is a main road where trucks come in to offload goods. Today, not even a motorcycle can come in here. We keep our goods on the road because if you fail to do that, nobody will come into your shop to buy. Other traders are out there; so you have to be there,” he said.
He also narrated the menace of hoodlums who claim to be members of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
“Every item you buy from this market, some boys are around the corner to stop you and demand payment of one levy or another, and if you refuse, you will be beaten up and you also lose what you bought,” he added.
The effect of this development is the loss of patronage for Onitsha Main Market.
Former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Robert Okonkwo, had running battle with traders who complained that they were no longer making sales, hence could not pay storage fees and other levies to government.
However, the situation in Onitsha has continued to change for better in the last one month.
This is the outcome of ‘Operation Sweep’ exercise embarked upon by Governor Willie Obiano’s JoinT Task Force (JTF) on security. The team, which comprises police, soldiers and the state vigilance group, has virtually sent the hoodlums packing.
At the Upper Iweka fly-over, the task force has been laying relentless siege, busting Indian hemp bunks and arresting patrons in their numbers.
Pickpockets and those snatching passengers’ hand bags have equally taken flight, with unlucky ones getting arrested.
The motor parks are being cleaned up, with air of safety pervading the environment. Even neighbouring Obosi town, where the hoodlums used to take refuse, is benefiting from the proactive security operation.
Incidentally, Obiano had earlier warned that his administration would not give room for hoodlums and criminals to disrupt business activities in the state, adding that there would be zero tolerance to insecurity in the state.
With the cleansing exercise, some of the hitherto bad spots now wear atmosphere of safety, as several security trucks and JTF operatives patrol the area in a bid to stamp out criminality in the area.
To this end, the Anambra State House of Assembly is to amend the law establishing the vigilance service, to give the government legal impetus for the operation of the security body.
Madam Nwani Nkem, a food vendor at the Lagos Park, told TheNiche that it had not been like this in recent times.
“We saw it as being impossible. I have been selling mama put (roadside food vending) here for five years, and I know what these boys do to us. Some don’t even pay for their food, and they also frighten our customers.
“Now look at Onitsha town, and you can see that we are no longer afraid. The JTF men are always here, and they patrol the town every day. Those bad boys have disappeared and we can do business peacefully,” she enthused.
At the Onitsha Main Market, traders expressed surprise that such security measures could work in view of the complex nature of the area.
They, however, urged Obiano not to relax the security arrangement to avoid resurgence of the hoodlums.
In apparent bid to sustain the tempo of action against the hoodlums, there was a security summit that was organised by the state government where all stakeholders made contributions on the way forward.
During the summit, the governor sensitised traditional rulers and presidents-general of communities on the current regime of security arrangement in the state, stressing on zero tolerance on kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal acts.
The summit equally noted the need for security operatives to advance to digital technology for surveillance, tracking and criminal identification. Modern equipment like closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, walk-through metal detectors, security alerts, scanners, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology and Information and communications technology (ICT) among others, it noted, should be employed by security operatives for effectiveness and as a way of maintaining superiority over the criminals.
Equally, scientific technologies like forensics should be pursued as means of crime detection. More urgent is the need to make the state police emergency response code number very efficient to ensure rapid response by the security operatives and delivery of quick assistance of citizens in distress, the summit noted, in a communique.
Participants also requested the state government to ensure border security integrity as a way of curbing infiltration of criminals into the state.