Terrorists takeover of Ugwogo/Nsukka road and Peter Mbah’s conspiratorial silence
By Dr Christian Asogwa
The month of June 2023, has been horrible for Enugu residents and people; security wise. Kidnapping within Enugu metropolis has reached an alarming crescendo not comparable to any other time in recent history. Observers say, an average of three kidnapping incidents now occur per week in Enugu metropolis, most of which go unreported and which got worse after the unfortunate incident along the Four Corner- Udi road, in which the abductors killed someone.
The situation has degenerated so badly that Enugu residents through the social networks, now warn their loved ones on the danger of night movement within the city. The warning, many observe, no longer hold water since the most recent incidents in New Haven and Trans Ekulu, took place in broad daylight.
While Coal city residents try to figure out what’s going on, the situation along Ugwogo- Nsukka road has been nothing short of domestic terrorism after kidnappers once again took over the road. It is now a common practice for motorists to line up between Ugwogo and Opi Agu for hours, waiting for a signal to advance from daring drivers who came out unhurt, before others could attempt to take the risk. Most motorists who didn’t heed the signal, ended up in the hands of the terrorists who sadistically herd them and their passengers into the bushes from where they are moved from place to place until ransom is paid.
What has changed since the last intervention by the immediate past governor of the state? It would be recalled that when a similar situation cropped up a couple of weeks before the last general elections, former Governor Ugwuanyi not only ordered massive deployment of police personnel to man the road but also directed that thick bushes on both sides of the road, which hampered visibility and provided cover for criminals, be cleared. After all that was done, normalcy returned.
Again what has changed between then and now? Have the police pulled out their men from the road or have thick vegetation once again sprouted due to the rainy season and now requires further clearing? No one seems to be answering the questions as nothing has so far been heard from the new Enugu State government. Why is Governor Mbah keeping silent and doing nothing? Is one month not enough for the government to respond to a security emergency?
Is he abandoning the Ugwogo- Nsukka road users to their fate?
By doing nothing and saying nothing since the beginning of the month of June, is Governor Mbah not sending a political message that he does not care since the road is predominantly used by Enugu North indigenes who he perhaps owes no obligation? Let no one accuse me of an unfounded accusation because it indeed has foundation. If the Enugu State government responded expeditiously like a responsible government would do, to save the lives of its citizens, no one would have had any reason to accuse another.
May I remind the new governor that the constitutional responsibility of any government is first and foremost, the protection of lives and property of the citizens. Where a government fails in this cardinal responsibility, it is adjudged a failure no matter the extent of success it records in other areas. Governor Peter Mbah must therefore wake up to his constitutional responsibility before Enugu State turns into another Zamfara where law and order have completely broken down.
Before we enter the month of July, Peter Mbah must do everything in his power to restore law and order across the state as a matter of extreme emergency. His current preoccupation with enforcing sit-at-home cancellation order, without first guaranteeing security for the people, amounts to putting the cart before the horse. I’m told that he now forces hapless government workers to go to work on Mondays without any guarantees for their safety. The governor must realize that forcing workers out on a day they’re most at risk and when everyone else is at home, amounts to endangering their lives which we all know has no duplicate. The governor needs not be lectured to know that no economic activity can thrive without first guaranteeing the security of lives and property of the citizens.
Dr Christian Asogwa, who is ordinarily resident in Enugu, is a Lecturer at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
