The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) the umbrella body of all the youth groups in the South-East geopolitical zone, has condemned in the strongest terms, the attack on monarchs in Nnenasa, headquarters of the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, that saw to the death of three traditional rulers.
The group, in a statement issued to journalists in Owerri on Wednesday by the President General of the association, Hon Goodluck Ibem and the Publicity Secretary, Comrade Okey Nworu, expressed regret over the grusome murder of Eze E Anayochukwu Durueburuo – Obi of Okwudor Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Sampson Osunwa of Ihebineowerre autonomous Community and HRH Eze Onyeaka, the Obi of Nkume who later died in the evening after he was rushed to the hospital over various degrees of gun shot injuries sustained.
The group, while describing the assassination of the traditional rulers as villainous, barbaric, senseless, observed with dismay, what happened in that stakeholders meeting of the traditional rulers, which according to them, was as if it was in the movies but unfortunately it was in real life.
They said: “It is so shameful that our ones peaceful land is now turning into a war zone were one cannot predict was will happen next.”
COSEYL called on the youths of Njaba to move into action and gather intelligence that would lead to the arrest of those hoodlums, who perpetrated the heinous act that took away the joy and comfort of so many families, Communities and Igboland in general.
The said: “Now is the time to be our brothers keeper. All Communities in Igboland must come now to work in synergy on matter of security.”
The youth body declared that the governors and security agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting life and properties, had failed woefully, adding that people were now on their own on matters of security, adding that all Communities must rise up and defend their territories against Invaders and criminal elements.
“All hands must be on deck to return Igboland to was it used to be peaceful,” the group said.
The group demanded that the governors of the South-East must mobilise communities with the security votes at their disposal to youths and traditional rulers in various communities and urban areas for the security of the land.
According to them the killing had passed the elastic limit, regretting that the youths who were supposed to be carried along on matters of security by the South-East governors were relegated to the background, while security situation was worsting day by day.
The group said: “South-East governors feel less concern about the security of their citizens because they move with military and police escorts. The way things are presently going, if nothing is done urgently, even the governors will have no place to hide. The time to do the needful is now. The South-East Governors should wake-up from their slumber.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune