The Oweto-Otukpo Road Corridor As The New Killing Field…..
By Dr Agbo Major
The upsurge in crimes and criminality at the Oweto-Iga-Adoka-Otukpo road corridor lately is because the Tivs suddenly woke up and united in crushing their activities at Naka and it’s environs. The Idoma nation is a peaceful place and the people are very proud of their heritage and what they are.
The senseless killings such as the one of yesterday around Ojinebe could be averted if all stakeholders in government, community leaders, youth leaders, farmers are united.
Experience have shown that no form of discussions (non kinetic) approach with criminals have worked in our clime. If it were an effective tool, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and indeed the entire North West and North East would have been peaceful by now. Our leaders need a rethink in approach.
Quoting late Gen Sani Abacha “any insurgency that last for more than 24 hours has the hands of the authority in it”. What lessons can be learnt from this?. What questions do we ask our traditional, political, community and youth leaders now?. Can foreigners invade a place conveniently and go unchallenged like we are seeing now?. Can we just be serious and unite against these enemies of the glorious destiny of the Idoma nation?.
First, it was rampant around the Ankpechi section where we were told captives were taken all through the forest leading to the Atlo axis of Ohimini local government. One begins to wonder why it is difficult to fish the local collaborators who work with these external invaders. If it continues like that then the traditional and community leaders are complicit (records again have shown the complicity of traditional rulers in North West), it seems same is now staring us on the face. The state government must then invoke necessary aspects of the chieftaincy laws to call these people to order including the possibility of removing and deposing all those found wanting in discharging their responsibilities as leaders.
Remedial measures may range from proper profiling of the policemen and other security agents mounting numerous or better still “revenue generating” checkpoints on the road. It’s indeed a huge embarrassment to see the number of checkpoints and stern/shabbily dressed security men yet crimes and criminality can’t be put under control. The people need to know whether their stay there is to check or to aid and abate it. Another measure could be total rehabilitation of the road to enable commuters maintain the speed that could frustrate the nefarious activities of these hoodlums. The present slow pace of movement caused by that almost totally impassable road is a huge advantage for these hoodlums.
The Agatu, Apa, Ohimini, Otukpo and Okpokwu local government chairmen must immediately initiate moves to call all leaders at all levels to a security conference. I saw flyers of something that had semblance of this held in Otukpo facilitated by one Jamesleo Oche over the Christmas period but its scope was limited to achieve its desired goals. We need to revisit that shortly. Security is a complex whole and the business of all of us. I do not believe that our traditional/community leaders are unaware of this ongoing killings.
Let me commiserate with the families of all those who have fallen victim of these unceasing siege by gun wielding marauders on that road including the one of yesterday and ask God to grant their souls the desired rest. They have only paid the price for the greed and insensitivity of our leaders. We will continue to pray for their souls.
A united people would always WIN, it is possible.
God bless the Idoma nation.
Dr Agbo Major, a public Affairs Analyst writes from Abuja Nigeria.
