In response to the national malaise of kidnapping, robbery, banditry and urban terrorism which spilled over to Abia from neighbouring states, His Excellency, Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji mapped out an inimitable and well thoughout security blueprint to confront the menace that was almost spiraling out of control. In spite of all the odds, he engaged the services of an indefatigable security adviser-a retired Colonel of the Nigerian Army – a hard boiled veteran, in counter insurgency methods, weapons and tactics, to firm up game plans that restored Abia back to its primordial and unassailable domain of safety.
Governor Orji’s highest priority is to keep Abia safe in harmony with the Igbo pristine values of communal serenity. This vision was translated into a strategy of preventing the menace of miscreants on Abians by preparing and planning for emergencies and investing heavily in strong response and recovery capabilities.
T.A. Orji’s security apparatus went ahead to put in place a criminal detection architecture that enhanced capacity and information sharing, that identified and interdicted deviants planning to do us harm. Today, the dividend of the effective management of the security threats has impacted positively not only on all Abians who used to cower in fear at day time and scurry home by sunset. Nite life has returned to the cities while businesses and commercial houses and folks now engage in their routine activities without looking across their shoulders.
The real icing on the cake, is that recent international safety and security assessments from many credible foreign intelligence travel reports as at October 2009 have singled out Abia as the safest state in the South eastern flank of Nigeria. When you juxtapose this rating against the frightening travel advisory warnings which the foreign embassies were hitherto issuing and are still churning out against some contiguous state, you will appreciate the reason for a standing ovation to ‘T.A Orji. Beyond the kudos, Abia is now positioned as the ultimate investment destination for international finance and capital.
So what do we do to sustain the momentum of tranquility that is prevailing in the state?
I ask this question because there exists a group of local marauders, saboteurs and wet blankets who will always wish anarchy to reign. The two traditional rulers, Eze Reuben Nworgu of Ihe-Iyi Autonomous Community in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area and Eze Emmanuel Simeon Oforji of Isi-Obehie Autonomous Community in Ukwa-West Local Government Area who were recently deposed is a pointer to this effect. The deposed traditional rulers constituted a clog in government’s war against insecurity in the state.
In neighbouring Rivers state, security agents recently arrested and arraigned the monarch of Konju­ Okirika, HRM Captain Nemi Iyalla Oputibeya X, Chief Stephen Nonju Opungiriko and Nathan Sotonye Alabo, before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court, for allegedly sponsorship of kidnapping and participating in the activities of hoodlums called ‘Icelanders’ King Opungiriko whose residence at Okochiri was raided by the JTF when they went in search of a militant leader, is facing a five count charge of belonging to and participating in the activities of secret cult.
Dangerous criminals who live in our midst are not ethereal beings but hucksters in flesh and blood that carry on with impunity. In other climes, security matters are not the exclusive preserve of the government of the day, but an arena of shared interests between the citizenry, corporate bodies, law enforcement agencies and the government. It is not operationally possible to saturate every square meter of Abia with troops and law enforcement agencies. Therefore it behooves on every Abian to act as a private eye and whistle blower on these nefarious characters.
For the corporate bodies and operators in the organised private sector, now is the time to rise up and complement the efforts of Governor Orji who, in spite of lean resources, has committed a very huge budget to safeguarding Abia. Aba city is the epicenter of the industrial and commercial matrix of Abia. The city is a veritable hub in the global supply and value chain of production. The ransom value of kidnapped business men in the city commands premium price, It is therefore in their enlightened self interest to get out of the cocoon of complacency and synergise with the state government. The dictum which posits that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance is very much relevant now.
Security sources aver that the occasional ruckus experienced in the city is a fallout of ‘migrant criminal workers’ who find the Abia terrain easy to criss cross. It takes barely 25 minutes for bandits who take off from the neighboring states to hit Abia territory.
There must be a more integrated approach involving the NGOs, corporate entities, civil society, local vigilantes, mass media, international organisations, the police, federal and the state governments in quelling this crime” There is a growing global consensus against organised banditry. And we must buy into the bilateral protocols of cooperation.
The United Nations Convention against Organised Crime, adopted by General Assembly resolution 55/25 of 15 November 2000, is the main international instrument in the fight against organised crime. It entered into force on 29 September 2003 and is further supplemented by three protocols, which target specific areas and manifestations of organised crime. This is a platform which must be leveraged by the federal government to this scourge.
Also, the mass media and NGOs have a pivotal role to play in boosting the police morale. For the records, it is needful to mention tht T.A. Orji’s government has donated over 60 patrol vans to the Abia State Command of the Nigerian Police and other security formations to ensure effective patrolling of the streets of Abia State.
This is in addition to the institution of an insurance scheme which ensures that families of policemen who lose their lives in the line of duty are well catered for.
In addition, two new Police formations have been set up in the state: MOPOL 55 Squadron based at Nsulu and the Anti-Terrorist Squad with operational headquarters at Obingwa. This is to ensure that Abia State will no longer be a play ground for thugs, hoodlums and criminals. This a cause for celebration.
Torti is a Senior Special Assistant (Media) to Abia State Governor

Chinyemike Torti