Chief Emmanuel Aja (Confirm), Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi has commended Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi for supporting the efforts of the council in the fight against insecurity and other forms of criminality in Ishiagu community.
The chairman spoke at a press briefing with journalists on Monday at Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi stressing that the strategic support by Gov. Nwifuru gave the community the victory.
He said that the Ishiagu community became very notorious due to security challenges with killings, kidnapping for ransom and other forms of criminality that ravaged every part of the community being the order of the day.
The council boss said that before he took over the rein of leadership the security situation in the Ishiagu community became alarming and that farmers could no longer go to their farms over fears of abduction or being killed.
According to him, kidnappers took over the forests and farmlands in the community while kidnapping for ransom and killing innocent citizens became the order of the day.
He said that commuters and motorists were waylaid and abducted daily along the major roads that led into the community with most of the victims killed.
“When we came on board in 2022, we declared a state of emergency on insecurity and read the riot act to criminals terrorising the community.
“We brought in security experts to advise us on how to go about the herculean task; you know that security is not what you discuss anyhow or in public but we assembled the right people who are knowledgeable in security matters.
“The immediate past governor, Chief Dave Umahi gave us support, the stakeholders rallied around and we put our strategy to work.
“I can authoritatively say that kidnapping activities have stopped not reduced in Ishiagu and this is due to efforts we have put in addressing the menace in the community.
“Our dear governor, His Excellency, Chief Francis Nwifuru has continued to support our efforts in ensuring that the communities in Ebonyi including Ishiagu are secured and free from armed bandits and kidnappers,” Aja said.
The chairman who recounted how living in a military barrack, his love for security work and security personnel influenced his decision to make the community safe from criminals noted that he vowed not to rest until every part of the local government area was secured.
” When I was small and living in the Northern part of the country, we lived in a barrack and I enjoyed security work and loved security agencies.
“Fortunately, when I was made the youth leader of the Ishiagu community I performed like a security man and the former governor, Umahi in 2015 appointed me as a technical assistant to the governor on Internal Security.
“When I assumed office as the chairman of Ivo LGA I saw the heightened insecurity in my community and I said to myself that you must free your people from this menace.
“Nobody comes into the community from the three entry routes including the Amaeze axis of Awgu – Mile 2 Road, from the Okigwe – Afikpo axis, or the Uburu – Mpu in Ani Nri local without fear of being kidnapped.
“The primary responsibility of government is providing security to the people; we said we cannot be in power and our people cannot freely go their farms or return to their community.
“We established Army checkpoints at the popular ‘Ojukwu’ bus stop notorious for kidnap activities along the Amaeze axis of the Awgu – Mile 2 Road, another army checkpoint along the Okigwe – Afikpo expressway and deployed security vigilantes to comb our forests.
“We have several police checkpoints in addition; poor man does not ask for money, all he needs is security to be able to go to his farm and I am happy that we have given our people security and our borders are adequately secured,” he added. ENDS//
