As Anambra State prepares for the forthcoming governorship election coming up on November this year, media practitioners under the aegis of the League of Anambra Journalists in Abuja (LAJA), have decried the continuous attacks and killings in some parts of the state.
In a statement jointly signed by its interim President, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo and Secretary Princess Ekwi Ajide, on Thursday, LAJA described the current wave of insecurity in the state despite purported deployment of resources by the state government as “very deplorable and devastating.”
The statement acknowledged the efforts by authorities to stem the tide of insecurity but wondered why high-profile attacks and killings, alongside unreported cases, have remained on the increase.
“We are aware of efforts by the state government to curtail insecurity issues which rained supreme in the state in the past few years, but recent attacks and killings of individuals have been of great concern, LAJA said.
The association regretted that “before recently, Anambra State was noted as a peaceful and secured state in all facets of its existence,” noting that ‘the menace of hoodlums and other forms of miscreants then went very high.”
It added however, that the timely intervention of the current administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo at some points, offered some hope.
“Not so long, the activities of these non-state actors have resurfaced, a situation that has again put residents at the edge. Only few weeks ago, the son of a ranking state official of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was taken away and killed around the state capital.
“While many were still trying to get over this, another killing was recorded in Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area, where an All Progressives Congress (APC) Ward Chairman was reported assassinated. The new dimension to insecurity in the state needs to be checked and eliminated with an enhanced security strategy and implementation,” the statement said.
The Journalists also enjoined the state government to ensure better training and equipping of its security operatives with modern tools and welfare packages to enable them carry out their functions effectively.
“Security in this age should be more of a use of scientifically proven means, especially in the area of deploying technology (for communication and smooth operations) alongside ensuring robust community engagements.
“This application will not only boost the security situation, but will restore citizens’ confidence as the election gets closer,” the statement said.
While commending the swift action in the dismissal of security personnel who assaulted a corps member in a gruesome manner, the statement urged the state government to put proactive machinery in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.
The statement also enjoined politicians and the electorate in the state to shun all forms of violence (verbal and physical) in the build-up to the upcoming governorship election.