Group raises alarm over rising insecurity in Ebonyi, calls for FG’s intervention

A group, AnyiChuks Grassroots Support Organisation (AGSO), has raised alarm over deteriorating security in parts of Ebonyi, especially in Onicha Local Government Area.

The group in a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki, by Chief Abia Onyike, Director, Media and Publicity of the support group, urged the Inspector- General of Police and the Federal Government to halt the rising insecurity.

The organisation in the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria also urged the Ebonyi Government and Onicha LGA to braze up to the security challenges.

Onyike said that the security challenges had resulted to the death of prominent citizens in the area.

“The federal and state governments should collaborate and deploy effective security measures to restore order and normalcy to the troubled communities.

” It is the primary responsibility of the government to maintain law and order to protect lives and property.

“In the times past, Ebonyi had been very peaceful but we are highly perturbed at the level of insecurity and violent deaths in the vicinity.

“We are highly disturbed by the alarming state of security breaches in the state, especially in Isu, Onicha LGA of Ebonyi and its environs, including the latest abduction of the Provost Federal College of Education, Isu, Prof. Reuben Okechukwu.

“He was abducted by armed men on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the boundary between Isu and Agba in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi.

“Within a space of six months, three prominent indigenes of Isu Okoma community have been shot dead by hoodlums at different times, while the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Ambrose Ogbu was kidnapped six months ago and is yet to regain his freedom.

” Similarly, the President of the Town Union was killed by armed men a few months ago, while an educationist, Alhaji Iyi Oji was shot dead, just as the Proprietor of Galaxy Hotel, located in the area was shot and murdered in cold blood in his business premises.

“In the light of the above, we wish to call on the Federal Government and the Inspector-General of Police to wade into the security crises in Onicha LGA to unravel the mystery behind the continuous bloodshed in the area by miscreants,” the group said.