By Chimaobi Nwaiwu
The Anglican Bishop of Amichi Diocese, Bishop Ephraim Ikeakor, has warned that the worsening security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the South East, should not be treated as a political issue, but as a national emergency requiring urgent and sincere action.
He blamed rising insecurity on what he described as selfishness among political leaders and their failure to speak truth to those in authority, adding that such silence has worsened the crisis.
Bishop Ikeakor also faulted security agencies for failing to prevent incidents such as the reported abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, questioning how the attackers were able to operate without interception.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has assured residents of the South East that it is monitoring developments across the region to prevent criminal elements from destabilising communities.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group said the Eastern Security Network (ESN) remains active in protecting forest areas in the region, while dismissing allegations against the outfit as attempts to weaken its operations.
IPOB also warned politicians against dragging the ESN into partisan politics or making statements that could incite security agencies against the group.
According to the statement, the group maintained that insecurity in other parts of the country would have been worse in the South East without its presence.
Bishop Ikeakor, however, urged political leaders to speak boldly against governance failures and avoid shielding ineffective leadership, stressing that honest criticism is necessary for improvement.
He also called on security agencies to intensify their efforts, describing the current security situation in the country as “pathetic” and requiring decisive, non-political responses.
Also speaking, a security expert and National Coordinator of the Human Rights Justice Advocates (HRJA), Dr. Basil Ogomegbulam, called for the revival of community vigilante groups across the South East to complement formal security agencies.
He said reliance solely on police and military operatives was inadequate, noting that local vigilantes possess better knowledge of difficult terrains and community layouts.
Ogomegbulam added that while existing security arrangements have contributed to protecting rural areas, communities must remain vigilant and not assume that the situation is fully under control.
He urged traditional rulers and town union leaders to reactivate local security structures and strengthen intelligence sharing with formal security agencies to improve safety across the region.
