Insecurity: Anambra Lawyers Tackle Obiano, Demand Action

Legal practitioners in Anambra state on Monday demanded an improved security of life and a stop to rising Insecurity in Anambra state.

The protesting legal practitioners under the umbrella of Nigeria Bar Association, Anambra Chapter, stormed the Anambra state government house in protest of the increased wave of crimes and killings in the state.

The protesters took to the streets of Awka, the state capital to complain the recent killing of its member and president-general of Omor community named Mr. Frank Onwuachi who was kidnapped and murdered by unknown hoodlums along Ezu River/Anaku road of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Bar Association, Anambra state
chapter, led by all the branch chairmen in the state, Mr Onyechi Ononye said the protest was in reaction to the terrible security situation in the state.

Mr Ononye who is the Chairman of NBA Branches in Anambra state said there has been killings and kidnappings in the state calling on the state government to rise up to their responsibilities and address the situation as the lives of the citizens in the state are no more safe.

“We are not here to fight the governor. We are not here to attack him or do what is not right, why we are here is to tell him that our life is no more safe in the state. We can no longer go to courts safely because of the security situation.

“We are lawyers in the society and the society is looking onto us. If we don’t do anything to exempt ourselves and other members of the public, then we have failed.”

They urged the governor to collaborate with police to investigate the kidnap and murder of their member, Mr Frank Onwuachi and ensure that the perpetrators of the crime are brought to book.

Suggestively, they called for immediate deployment of police operatives to all strategic places and flashpoints of criminal activities in Anambra State to quell the recent killing spree in the state.

The legal practitioners also decried that even the safety of farmers in the state are no longer guaranteed stating that parents and rural dwellers who depend on peasant farming as a source of livelihood could no longer farm as a result of the insecurity in farms across the state.

They also demanded the government to beef up the courts in the state with security as inmates of various crimes are being brought to courts citing the fate of prison officials who were attacked and murdered while conveying inmates from court.

They also urged the government to ensure that all cases of kidnapping and killings of innocent citizens are checked and put to a stop adding that Obiano must ensure that the security operatives do not harass or rely on the arrest of innocent citizens especially youths in their bid to curb the insecurities in the state.

The chairman of NBA Awka branch, Mr. Ekene Okonkwo opined that there is need for govt to regig security structure in the state. He also called on government to consider adoption of state police sating that its introduction will help address the spate of crimes in states.

Addressing the Protesters on behalf of the state governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu assured that the government is working hard to get to the root of the crimes in the state reassuring that the perpetrators when arrested will be brought to justice.

While he restated that Anambra state remains the safest state in Nigeria, he said what has happened in the state withing couple of weeks has been a wakeup call on the state urging the legal practitioners to see to the trials and prosecution of the suspects when they are finally brought to court as security of the state is a business for all.