Ikpeazu charges Special Security Committee to flush out all criminals in Umunneochi, deepen intelligence on insecurity

*Inaugurates Special Committee on Pipeline Vandalism in Ukwa West

From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia

Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has inaugurated a Special Security Committee for Umunneochi Local Government Area with a charge to the Committee to stamp out stranger elements that have no business in their forests and have constituted themselves into security threats.

Inaugurating the Committee at the Government House, Umuahia recently, Ikpeazu directed the Committee to take over all ungoverned spaces in Umunneochi and set up systems that would lead to the apprehension of all elements who have become a nuisance to the people of the Council.

The Governor specifically charged the Committee to take decisive action to flush out all criminals in the area as the land belongs to the people of Umunneochi .

He added that they must be firm and that any citizen of the area found to be conniving with the criminals should be identified and dealt with.

The Governor warned that anybody who wants to do business in Umunneochi LGA must come out in the open and charged the Committee to deepen intelligence about what is happening in the area, especially movement around the area.

He further directed them to collaborate with neighbouring communities outside Umunneochi in the course of the assignment, promising that the initiative would be extended to Isuikwuato and Ukwa west LGAs.

The Governor assured the Committee that government would provide all that was needed to make their job successful and announced immediate provision of a patrol vehicle and motorcycles to serve as enablers to their assignment.

Ikpeazu assured that he would support the Committee until the story of security changes for the better in the area and also

Responding on behalf of the Committee, the Chairman, Eze Okechukwu Chukwuji, thanked the Governor for the initiative which, he noted would help to check insecurity in Umunneochi and assured that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.

The Special Security Committee which has 12 members, also has the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr Eze Chikamnayo,  as Secretary.

Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, the member representing Umunneochi State constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Okey Igwe, members of the State Executive Council, Executive Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Chief Ifeanyi Madu, and other top officials of the State Government were present at the event.

In similar vein, Abia State government has inaugurated a Special Committee/Task Committee/Taskforce for Anti-Bunkering, Pipeline Vandalism and Environmental Pollution in Ukwa West local government area of the state with the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mr Sopuruchi Beke, as its chairman.

The Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, inaugurated the Committee on Thursday 23rd June,2022 in his office in Umuahia, the state capital.

Ezem listed the Committee’s terms of reference to include stemming the rise in oil bunkering which he blamed for the reduction in the state’s 13 per cent Derivation Fund from the Federation Account, among others.

“You are to ensure the protection of the oil pipelines in Ukwa Local Government Area and the environs and to arrest suspected pipeline vandals and hand them over to the security agencies,” the SSG said.

He urged them to end all illegal oil activities in the area and environs as well as guard against all forms of environmental pollution as a result of unwholesome activities of oil bunkerers.

Ezem, who added that the Committee was expected to submit their reports monthly to his office, maintained that it must execute their mandate to the letter, not minding who was involved.

Other members of the Committee include Barr. Sam Wogu (Chairman Ukwa West Stakeholders), Chief Samuel Eze Nwangaga, Commissioner for Petroleum &  Solid Minerals; Hon. Uche Ihediwa (SAN),  Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice; HRH, Eze Chinyere Dike, Chairman of  Ukwa West Traditional Rulers Council0; Hon. Godwin Adiele, House Committee Chairman on Petroleum; Mr Chima Uwakwe; Representative of Police, CSP Ezeibe Emeka; Representative of the Army; Representative of the Navy, Lieutenant Commander Y. W. Emmanuel; Representative of NSCDC, DCC Chima Okarazu; Representative of DSS, Henry Nweze and Abia State Homeland Security Watch.