Fides Media Living the Faith
The gradual reclaiming of public space by security operatives has led to return to normal life in Anambra State
For some weeks now, Anambra State has been witnessing relative peace, law and order. For a state that was not too long ago described as the most secure and safest state in the South East, the level of crime that was witnessed in and around her environs in the ensuing months was quiet disturbing.
The menace of the Unknown Gunmen took a toll in the state; just like in other South East states, by way of damages done to structures in the state like police stations that were burnt down in different parts of the state; burning down of offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; as well as killing of soldiers and police personnel.
These in turn began to affect economic and commercial activities, as well as leading to the blockage of some roads by the police for fear of attacks by the gunmen.
Seizing the opportunity of the chaos, and also seeing that the police had vacated the public space, cultists took over the capital city of Awka, such that no week hardly passed without reported shooting and killing of cult members by rival gangs, even in broad daylight.
Innocent citizens in the states suffered more as they lived in fear, knowing that there was no more police protection for them as the police and sister security agencies had been virtually overwhelmed, being main targets of the gunmen’s attacks.
Armed robbery took a different dimension as daredevil robbers started harassing people in broad daylight brazenly. Anambra truly lived in fear.
Today the whole state is calm to a large extent. Communities, by themselves arranged and organized local security arrangements which resulted in the meting out of instant justice on criminals.
Today, life seems to be gradually returning to normal and the police and sister agencies are also slowly reclaiming the public space. The result is what we are seeing today and confidence is returning to the state, while commercial activities and economic activities are naturally improving.
This is a call on security operatives in the state not to rest on their oars but to reclaim the public space completely and ensure the sustenance of the calm and order being witnessed in the state presently so as to take Anambra back to the days when security and safety were the order of the day.
This is especially important, given that the state is entering into the critical period of election which comes with its own share of problems.
It is our prayer that things will continue to improve for the better.