By Johnson Mmadu
The recent killings in Uzo-Uwani LGA, which made Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and heads of security agencies in the state to visit the place the council area twice within one week has opened a new vista in the incessant and recurring security challenges in the council area, particularly in Nimbo and Adani communities.
It has opened a worrisome and troubling situation that requires urgent attention and drastic measures. Before Governor Mbah’s administration came into office, Uzo-Uwani LGA has witnessed some gruesome and dastard killings and insecurity that are often attributed to only criminal marauding herdsmen, operating in the council area and its environs. That is not to say that killer herders have not repeatedly killed and maimed indigenes and residents of the council area. They have.
Just recently in the Vanguard Newspaper was a story about one of the arrested and convicted suspects in the 2016 Nimbo attack, who was remanded in Enugu Correctional Centre waiting for hangman’s noose, Mohammed Zurai, confessing to the killings and pleading for legal assistance to get off the hook.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that after the 2016 Nimbo killings and arrest of the suspects, the then government of Enugu State constructed and equipped a Police Station in Nimbo and adopted other security measures to address the incessant killings and insecurity in the council area.
These measures yielded positive result, following the security agents’ bursting of a criminal gang known as Malaysia Boys that have been covertly terrorizing, killing, kidnapping, and maiming people in the council areas. Before this incident, the majority were of the view that it was only the marauding killer herdsmen who were attacking and killing people in the council area.
But Lo and behold and to the surprise and disappointment of many, the arrested members of the notorious criminal gang that have been unleashing mayhem on people are indigenes of the council area, their cohorts and accomplices from the neighbouring council areas and communities.
Eventhough, this was a clear evidence and testament to the fact that crime has no colour, tribe or religion, the development raised more moral questions about the sincerity, readiness and commitment of the people of the council area to collaborate and assist the governments and security agents to secure the place and its people.
Security wise, it is a known fact that when crime or insecurity repeatedly occurs or lasts in a place or area for too long, despite the presence of security personnel and other security measures, it simply mean that there are conspirators accomplices and moles within the area that are working secretly and closely with the daring criminals and recidivists.
They may be among the security personnel, residents, and indigenes of the area. Often times, it takes time and security intelligence to fish such saboteurs out and deal with them. This is especially in a difficult terrain like Uzo-Uwani.
It is for this reason that most times, security matters are kept very secret and confidential. But despite these, there are always moles and accomplices in virtually every human endeavour.
Meanwhile the recent killings of a policeman and members of Neighbourhood Watch Command in Adani community of the council area and the police findings had once again exposed the internal security conspiracies, contradictions and sabotage in the communities in the council area by the people of the council area.
So disturbing and shocking was the Police’s findings which was contained in a press statement titled: “Unprovoked Attack and Murder of Policemen And Neighborhood Watch Group Members At Igga Community: Three Suspected Masterminds Arrested issued by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, which read: “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public of the unprovoked and unwarranted attack and gruesome murder of two (2) Policemen and three (3) Neighbourhood Watch Group members by harboured criminal members of the Igga Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, in the evening hours of Friday, May 3, 2024.
On the same date, a combined security team of three (3) policemen and four (4) Neighbourhood Watch Group provided security for a team of visiting investors from Lagos on a tour of a proposed agricultural investment site in the area. However, the team was ambushed and attacked by a large group of criminal elements, who opened fire on them.
“Upon the unprovoked sudden attack, members of the team scampered for safety, while an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who led the team, one Neighbourhood Watch personnel, and the three (3) member team of investors were later rescued by a police team that immediately mobilized to the crime scene. But eventually the murdered members of the team went missing and unaccounted for.
“However, in the course of a full-scale investigation and a search and manhunt operation launched thereafter, three (3) males suspected to have masterminded the attack were arrested.
Their revelations during interrogation led to the discovery and recovery of the slain policemen and Neighbourhood Watch Group members in the forest on April 4, 2024. Their lifeless bodies were taken to the hospital, confirmed dead by doctors, and deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
With this swift arrest and shocking revelations, one needs no soothsayer to know that intermittent heightened insecurity in communities across the council area has everything to do with internal collaboration and sabotage. If not, how can indigenes of the council area allegedly kill their own brothers who are personnel of Neighbourhood Watch and some policemen who were on duty there and bury them in a shallow grave in a forest? What a barbaric and dastard act.
While the police and Governor Mbah deserve commendations and support for the arrests and discoveries, the security agents should spread its dragnet to fish out other criminals and their collaborators in the council area that have been wrecking havoc. Putting their ears on the ground, more of them will be apprehended.
For giving the children and spouses of the slain members of Neighbourhood Watch Group and policemen scholarships and jobs, Governor Mbah has done the needful. This will give the bereaved families an enduring lifeline and consolation.
Meanwhile, it could be observed that since the successful ban of sit-at-home in the state, arresting, killing and displacing of the unknown gunmen and kidnappers from their camps, they have recently targeted some soft spots to attack some security personnel on duty in the state.
Just recently, the gunmen killed some security personnel on duty around Presidential road and along Opi-Orba road. Eventhough Governor Mbah has placed N10m bounty on the purveyors of the killings, it is expected of the security agents in the state to up their games both in operations and intelligence gathering. Criminals hardly give up because crime pays, especially in our clime.
This is how the peaceful atmosphere and security being provided by Governor Mbah’s administration in collaboration with security agents could be sustained for the rapid development of the state and its economy.
