By Adeleye Kunle
Concerned about the recent spate of insecurity in the southeast geopolitical zone, the United Igbo Elders Forum, UIEF, a coalition of Igbo elder statesmen, opinion leaders, and thought leaders in Nigeria and the diaspora, has directed governors in the region to take proactive measures to address the situation.
One method they proposed is to establish vigilante groups in all of Igbo land’s villages and communities.
Following their emergency meeting in Enugu over the weekend, where they discussed security and other issues affecting the zone, the forum expressed concern about the growing insecurity in the southeast.
“We are disturbed by the growing insecurity in Igbo land and call on Igbo governors, traditional and community leaders to take immediate steps to address this ugly situation,” the forum said in a communiqué signed by their national coordinator, Justice Alpha Ikpeama, and their acting national publicity secretary, Harford Ugwu.
“We advocate for the establishment of vigilante groups in all villages and communities throughout Igbo land.” People should also contribute to intelligence gathering because security is everyone’s concern.”
The forum, which also appointed a seven-member steering committee to further the same security goal, stated that the alarming state of insecurity in Igboland had become so unbearable that they would no longer fold their arms and watch murderous criminals and ransom kidnappers wreak havoc in Igboland.
Apart from electing a seven-member steering committee, with members drawn from the seven Igbo-controlled states of Delta, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi, and chaired by Prof. Uzodinma Nwala of the Alaigbo Development Foundation, the UIEF unanimously elected Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, the first civilian governor of Enugu state, as National President of En
The steering committee, led by Uzodinma Nwala, was given a two-month deadline to organize, harmonize, enhance, unite, and draw all Igbo elders, organizations, statesmen, major and critical stakeholders under one administrative umbrella in order to form a formidable backbone to work in close collaboration with Ohanaeze Ndigbo and give Ndigbo the honor to assume the status of Igbo union that was celebrated by all Nigerians in the 1960s.
Justice Anthony Iguh, a retired Supreme Court judge, attended the meeting, as did former Governor Nwodo, Bishop Obi Onubogu, Archbishop Chris Edeh, Methodist Archbishop of Enugu Province, and Rev Ndubuisi John, immediate past chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Anambra state chapter.
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