CLO decries collapse of security in Anambra, calls on President Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has decried the almost total collapse of security in the country and in Anambra State in particular.

Addressing journalists in Onitsha, Anambra State on the 76th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the State chairman of the rights body, Comrade Vincent Ezekweme, condemned the spate of kidnappings, armed robbery, killings and cultism in various parts of the country.

Calling on the perpetrators to halt their activutiescand embrace dialogue, where it exists, the CLO boss called on State and Federal Governments to provide jobs , skill acquisition, empowerment to youths and constant consultations with them to know how best to ameliorate the situations.

The group also called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to urgently release the leader of the Indegenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOP), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to douse the rate of insecurity in the South East of the country.

CLO boss recalled that prominent Igbo leaders like Chief Mbazuluike Amechi, Dr.Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Joe Irukwu, all of them now dead at one time or the other requested former President Muhammadu Buhari to unconditionally release Kanu but the requests fell in deaf ears.

He said history beckons on Tinubu as a democrat who fought for de-amnulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief MKO Abiola to adopt political solution in releasing the IPOB leader.

Ezekwueme said the unconditional release of Kanu would be the: “best and greatest tribute to the memories” of those Igbo leaders who had appealed for his release.

The CLO boss condemned the activities of agents of Anambra State Government who resort to violence and physical abuse of citizens in a bid to collect revenues among others.

He recalled with sadness the brutality and assault unleashed on the former President of Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Mine and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), Mr Okey Akaeneme, who was inflicted with spinal chord injury by officials of Anambra (ASWAMA) and now recuperating at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Another person, Mrs Nkemakolam Nnamani, CLO boss said, has been put in permanent disability by the Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad and there are many others across the state.

Unfortunately, in all this, Ezekwueme lamented the State Government has remained silent and indifferent to their plights inflicted on them by their agents,calling on the State Government to urgently rehabilitate the victims and bring the culprits to justice.