Elochukwu Benjamin
Awka
The Igbo Community Association (ICA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has condemned the recent attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, describing the incident as a disturbing reminder of the worsening security situation in the Southeast.
The association called on the Southeast Governors and other Igbo-speaking states to urgently establish and deploy armed forest guards to tackle criminal elements operating within forests and rural communities.
In a statement on Wednesday, signed by its President General, Nze Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the apex body representing Igbo residents in the FCT expressed concern over what it described as the increasing insecurity confronting ordinary Nigerians.
According to the association, the country has become increasingly unsafe due to the activities of armed bandits, kidnappers and other violent criminal groups, with many communities living under constant fear.
The statement referenced the recent invasion of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Affa community, Udi Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly attacked worshippers during an early morning service on Sunday, abducting a Catholic seminarian and an unspecified number of congregants after firing gunshots to create panic.
Describing the attack as unacceptable, the association warned that such incidents should not be allowed to recur and urged authorities to take decisive action to prevent further attacks on places of worship and communities.
While commending South-East governors for what it described as their developmental efforts, the ICA said the worsening security challenges require urgent and practical intervention beyond existing measures.
It specifically urged the governors to emulate the approach adopted in some northern states by establishing armed forest guards to secure forests, dismantle criminal hideouts and protect residents from kidnappers and other armed groups.
“Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who recently deployed 1,000 forest guards across the state has taken a bold lead in this initiative.
“We encourage the Southeast Governors to take a cue from him and introduce this all-important initiative, which we believe will go a long way to secure our forests in AlaIgbo.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the Enugu State Governor in this regard and we call for their proper strengthening for effective protection of the forests,” Ellis-Ezenekwe posited.
The association argued that waiting for the implementation of state policing may delay urgently needed security interventions, adding that state governments should deploy every lawful measure available to safeguard lives and property.
The ICA also expressed concern over what it described as a growing security vacuum in the South-East, saying previous non-state security arrangements have failed to provide adequate protection.
It stressed that the establishment of armed forest guards has become necessary to restore confidence among residents, improve security across the region and prevent further tragedies similar to the attack on the Catholic church.
The association appealed to South-East leaders to act swiftly to ensure that forests and rural communities no longer serve as safe havens for criminal groups.
