Press Release
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja strongly condemn the actions of the Enugu Police Command in summoning Hon. Chijioke Ezugwu, Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, for fulfilling his duty to protect his people where the Nigerian security apparatus has consistently failed.
For years, communities in Uzo-Uwani and other parts of Enugu State have made desperate calls for security intervention, submitting countless petitions to the police and other law enforcement agencies regarding the persistent killings, rape, and destruction of farms by marauding herdsmen. Yet, the police have failed to take decisive action, leaving these communities vulnerable to unchecked violence.
We note with nostalgia the following instances where urgent pleas for police intervention were either ignored or dismissed, leading to the destruction of lives and properties. In 2022, residents of Adani and Ukpabi-Nimbo communities wrote several petitions to the Enugu State Police Command, pleading for protection following deadly attacks and no meaningful intervention was carried out.
In March 2023, farmers in Umulokpa and Nkpunato petitioned law enforcement regarding the destruction of their farms and killings of villagers by armed herdsmen; no arrests were made, and the perpetrators remained emboldened. In August 2024, multiple community leaders from Uzo-Uwani held emergency meetings with police authorities, providing evidence of planned attacks, no proactive measures were taken, and the attacks occurred as predicted, leading to loss of lives and property.
Despite repeated cries for security and law enforcement, the police response has been one of negligence, disregard, and indifference. Instead of fulfilling its constitutional duty to protect Nigerian citizens, the police command in Enugu has now resorted to intimidation of local leaders who have courageously stepped up to fill the security void left by the authorities.
It is deeply troubling that while the Enugu Police Command is harassing Hon. Chijioke Ezugwu, similar community security initiatives have been established in Northern Nigeria without council chairmen being summoned or intimidated by the police. For example: in Katsina State, the Yan Sakai vigilante group has been actively combating banditry, with full support from local government officials. No council chairman has been summoned for questioning.
In Zamfara State, the Community Protection Guards (CPG) were formed to defend villages against armed bandits. The police did not summon the council chairmen who backed this initiative. In Borno State, the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) has been operating alongside security forces to fight Boko Haram insurgents. Nobody has been harassed for supporting this effort.
Similarly, in the Southwest, for instance, Oyo State, the Amotekun Corps was established as a regional security outfit to combat criminal activities, including herdsmen attacks. Despite its proactive measures, no summons was issued by the police. In Ondo State, the State Government has backed the formation of local vigilante groups to protect farmers from violent herdsmen and in Ekiti State, communities in Ikole and Oye LGAs set up self-defence groups to combat rising insecurity. Again, nobody was harassed by the police.
Incidentally, the Ebube Agu security outfit, established by South-East governors on April 11, 2021, was meant to tackle rising insecurity in the region. However, it became non-functional due to multiple factors, including inadequate police backing. Reports suggest that security agencies, including the police, did not fully integrate or support Ebube Agu, which further contributed to its failure.
These examples highlight a disturbing double standard in law enforcement. When other regions take proactive security measures, they are praised for their efforts. Yet, when an Igbo council chairman does the same, he is summoned and intimidated.
In the face of rising insecurity and police negligence, security stakeholders, including retired army generals, have publicly encouraged communities to establish their own security outfits to protect lives and property. Distinguished retired officers such as Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) and Gen. Onyeabor Ihejirika (rtd) have repeatedly warned that Nigerian communities must not rely solely on the police, as recent failures in law enforcement have placed innocent citizens in grave danger.
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja fully supports community-driven security measures and affirms that these initiatives are constitutional, as established under Section 33(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), which guarantees the right to life and self-defence against imminent threats. Section 14(2)(b) which states thatthe security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Section 20 of the Police Act 2020 which allows communities to collaborate with security agencies in ensuring local peace and stability.
We maintain that the actions of Hon. Chijioke Ezugwu in setting up a vigilante group to combat violent criminal activities within Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area should be commended, not criminalized and demand for the immediate cessation of all intimidation tactics against local government officials and community leaders who dare to act in defence of their people. The Nigerian Police Force must recognize that its failure to ensure security has emboldened criminals while leaving innocent civilians defenceless.
Instead of summoning leaders like Hon. Chijioke Ezugwu, we demand that the police redirect its focus toward arresting and prosecuting violent herdsmen responsible for the attacks, deploying adequate security personnel to protect vulnerable communities, and investigating past failures to act on written petitions by affected Communities in Enugu.
Until these demands are met, communities across Enugu State and beyond must take proactive steps to safeguard their existence, because when the government fails, self-preservation becomes a necessity, not a choice.
Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja stands firm against this continued neglect of duty, and demand that security forces prioritize justice, law, and order above political intimidation. The people must be protected, not persecuted for taking responsibility when the government fails.
Sir. Chidi Udekwe
PRESIDENT
Otu Oka-Iwu, Abuja
