Group Alleges ‘Terrorists’ Have Infiltrated South-south/South-east

The group, Centre for the vulnerable & the underprivileged, (CENTREP), has alleged that ‘terrorists’ might have infiltrated the South-south and Southeast Nigeria during the COVID-19 lock down period.

The group, in a statement by its Executive Director, Oghenejabor Ikimi (Eqs) made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, expressed concern over the influx of ‘strange people’ who are massively being transported to the southern region of the country.

Ikimi, in the statement urged governors of the region to as a matter of urgency constitute neigbourhood watch in various Communities within their respective States to possibly avert any calamity.

The statement read: “Gentlemen of the Press, the attention of members of the Centre for the vulnerable and the underprivileged, (Centrep) have been drawn to the movement of suspected terrorist from the North to the South South region and other Southern States of the Federation under the guise of being Almajiri’s while Covid-19 lockdown is on.

“We wish to timeously advice the Governors of the South South region comprising of Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Rivers, Cross-River and Bayelsa States to immediately set up neigbourhood watch in various Communities within their respective States to possibly avert any calamity by Boko Haram who have threatened mayhem in the South South and the South East in the event of an attack.

“Centrep believes that the task of policing our various Communities in the South South or other geo political regions in Nigeria should not be left entirely in the hands of Men of the Nigerian Police Force as they are overwhelmed and ill equipped to tackle the present state of insecurity in the polity.

“Centrep believes that every Nigerian should be actively involved in policing the Community where he or she is resident in conjunction with our regular Police Force. Every Nigerian should be a Policeman/woman of some sort as obtainable in civilized climes. For emphasis sake, a Community could be a street, road, crescent, close or a quarter an individual is resident.

“A regional outfit like Amotekun in the South West region is a good move as same would work well in a homogenous society like the South West but in the South South region such an outfit may not work since the South South region do not have the same language, history and ancestry etc like what is obtainable in the South West or South East geo political region, hence Centrep recommends a neigbourhood watch wherein everybody resident in any given Community is actively involved in policing same as the case maybe.

“In other words, the duty of policing a given Community should be that of all residents therein in conjunction with the regular Police, such that any individual or group of person parambulating therein are easily spotted or identified and are either reported or handed over to the regular Police or relevant authorities by residents. Suspicious objects and luggage are not exempted.

“Local vigilante groups are good but a neighborhood watch where every resident is involved in the policing of the Community where he or she lives by way of timely spot age and reportage of any criminal activities within his or her Community to relevant authorities in confidence is a better option in the absence of drones, CCtv Cameras etc and in a situation where many of our local vigilantes have now suddenly grown scratchy palms like some of our security operatives in service”.