The Journalists Network for Ageing in Nigeria (JONAN) has asked for a declaration of State of emergency in the security sector of the country.
JONAN made the call through its Deputy President, Princess Joy Idam in a statement signed by it Secretary Franca Ogar.It said Idam made the call during the ITV 14th Anniversary in Abuja adding that the call was to mark Nigeria at 61, and the International Day for Older Persons.
According to her, the call has become absolutely necessary in view of the killings in the country. It is urgent for Security Chiefs including the Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Security Services and National Security Adviser to support the call for a declaration of state of emergency following the unabated mayhem, killings and abductions of innocent citizens across the country.
The Organization said that as a matter of urgency a state of emergency on security should be declared in the South East in particular and the entire country in general .
Princess Joy Idam also advised the security agencies to seek external support in view of the ongoing devastating destructions and killings across the country by blood thirsty killers and abductors.
She noted that the gruesome murders of Dr Chike Akunyili, the husband of former Director General of NAFDAC and former Minister of Information, late Prof. Dora Akunyili, and late Rev Shuaibu the CAN Chairman who was butchered by Muslim youths in Kano were abnormal signs of bad omen that need to be urgently address.
Dr. Chike Akunyili was gunned down in a most gruesome and very horrifying manner at Afor Nkpor, Anambra State. While Rev Shuaibu was butchered by Muslim youths at Kano.
She recalled also the case of the Traditional Ruler HRH Edozieuno Anakpulu, who traveled from Anambra to Imo to receive PMB during his state visit, only to meet an untimely death on his way back. The list is endless she lamented.
“Dr. Akunyili, until his untimely death was the Medical Director of St. Leo Hospital Enugu, he went to Onitsha to present a paper and receive an award at the memorial lecture put together by civil society organisation in honor of his late wife, Prof. Dora Akunyili and was gruesomely attacked at Nkpor on his way home.
Princess Idam noted that ” lots of gruesome attacks, abductions and killings had been going on around the entire South East zone and other parts of the country and incident abound where children writing SSCE are chased out of Examination Hall by bandits.”
Consequently, JONAN urged the Inspector General of Police and other law enforcement agencies to step up action towards unraveling perpetrators of the killings, kidnaps and banditary in the country and bring them to book.
In Anambra State, HRHEdozieuno Anakpulu, a former Igwe of Mkpunado Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra state, was also murdered.
HRH Edozieuno was one of the 12 traditional rulers in Anambra state suspended last year by Governor Willie Obiano for visiting President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja in company of the billionaire oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze. Perhaps his killing may not be unconnected with his visit to Imo to receive PMB.
JONAN condemns the continuous killings under the name of unknown gunmen. It’s either bandits, herdsmen, Muslim youths or IPOB. The Service Chiefs, DSS, NSA, IGP should not fold their arms while this total break down of Law and Order is unleashed on innocent citizens.
The Palace of a Traditional Ruler in Imo state was set ablaze for this and many more reasons, JONAN therefore calls for declaration a State of emergency on security in the South East in particular and the entire nation in general.
Princess Idam charged both the National Assembly and the security agencies not to play politics with the lives of our citizenry adding that security agencies must wake up to their responsibilities.
She advised Nigerians not to keep quiet and to report any security breach and suspects because “securing our lives and property should be business of all of us as citizens.” According to her, “if Nigeria is overwhelmed let’s seek external help to put an end to this insecurity and endless blood bath and spillage, it’s not good for our children and Older Persons as it adversely affect the health of elderly persons watch such bad news daily.
JONAN is the result of an Advocacy by the Director General National Senior Citizens Center, Dr Emem Omokaro. We commend her for hitting the ground running since her appointment a few months back.