Following recent successes recorded in tackling security challenges in Umunneochi Local Government Area, the Chairman,Hon Ifeanyi Madu has vowed to leave no stone unturned in flushing out criminals and securing lives and properties of people in the area.
Briefing newsmen in Umuahia over the Security situation in Umunneochi, Hon Madu said security measures have been adopted to checkmate the activities of hoodlums in the area even as security is being restored.
The Council Boss who spoke through the Secretary to Umunneochi Local Government Area, Uba Onyekachi added that the council is taking proactive measures to curb the spate of kidnapping and attacks by hoodlums,saying that the council is prioritizing the issue of security with a view ensuring safety of people within the LGA.
He attributed the precarious security situation to the influx of people from the boundary states surrounding Umunneochi and disclosed that some hoodlums terrorizing the area have been nabbed by security agents in collaboration with the local vigilantes.
“Over the week, through the help of the local vigilante,the people recorded success in the discovery of a kidnap camp inside one of the bushes in the area as well as the arrest of some hoodlums who were handed over to security agencies.
“Although we are facing security challenges,it is not peculiar to Umunneochi alone. We have security challenges in other parts of Abia North, Abia State and Nigeria as a whole.
“Why our own appears to be bigger than other ones is that Umunneochi is at the centre of the South East Region. We share boundaries with other states of the South East such as Anambra, Enugu,Imo and Ebonyi States so Umunneochi is a gateway to all these states.
“That being the case,We have a lot of influx of people into the LGA most of them bad and most of them good.
We are hosting the largest Gariki castle market in the whole of South East at Lokpa where you have people of diverse tribes especially that of Hausa Fulani doing their business in that place.
“In December 2020,the issue of insecurity sky- rocketed in Umunneochi but we have swung into action, and i can assure you that we are frontally attacking the challenges by using security Agencies and others stakeholders in collaboration with support by the local vigilante effectively manning the areas.
“Things are calming down now, infact we are in control of the security situation in Umunneochi”.
The Council Boss commended the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu for his quick interventions in safeguarding lives and Properties of the people of Umunneochi Local Government as well as the security agencies in the state for working as a team to ensure safety of people in the area.
He however pleaded with the Abia State government to ensure that security Agencies are deployed to mann the Leru,Lomara/ Nneato area permanently which had hitherto become a den of hoodlums.
Madu, warned the youths to desist from criminal activities as well as monitor happenings within the area so as to uncover activities of strange people who are not part of their neighbourhood and community.,
