Asocio-cultural organisation in Nigeria, the Ogbakor Ikwerre Convention, has urged Emohua local government council to evolve strategies to tackle security challenges that are threatening the economic and social development of the area.

Speaking at a meeting convened by the body at the Emohua Council Secretariat, Wednesday, the president General of the organisation, Chief Sampson Agbaru, said that the current wave of crime in some communities of the LGA, especially kidnapping, is a threat to over all development of the area.

Chief Agbaru explained that activities of some criminally minded youths who engage in armed robbery and kidnapping in the area are already threatening the said economic development of the area.

Recalling the kidnap of a block moulder in one of the communities in the area, the president general said “if they kidnap workers who are on road construction within the area, it can stop the project and that will affect development also.”

He therefore charged stakeholders from the various communities, including vigilante groups to tackle the matter at their various communities, urging them to embrace the numerous developmental projects embarked by the Amacechi  led administration. He urged them not to allow the activities of bad elements to stop them from benefiting from such projects.

In his speech, the chairman of the council Chief Allen Nma thanked the organisation for coming up with such initiative, and making Emohua Local Government as the first point of call. He said that the rising wave of crime in Ikwerre communities  has become a source of concern to sons and daughters of Ogbakor Ikwerre.

The council chairman also said that his administration has drawn up a plan aimed at tackling the ugly trend. He warned parents, especially fathers to caution their children against bad behaviour, stressing that any one caught in the act of criminality would not be spared.

Chief Nma also said that he will reach out to other Ikwerre council chairmen to seek ways of empowering the youths, but charged community leaders to report to the council those involved in such crimes for immediate actions.

Also speaking, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area, Mr Ben. B. Odu blamed the wave of crime on poverty as many youths needed empowerment, but regretted that many parents and politicians always intervene whenever these criminals were arrested.

The meeting was convened to brainstorm on how to tackle the security challenges that threaten development at the area.

Corlins Walter