The Igbo Community Association (ICA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has condemned the recent attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, in the Affa community of Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, describing the incident as a disturbing reminder of the worsening security situation in the South-East.
The association called on South-East governors to urgently establish and deploy armed forest guards to tackle criminal elements operating in forests and rural communities across the region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its President-General, Nze Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the apex body representing Igbo residents in the FCT expressed concern over what it described as the escalating insecurity confronting ordinary Nigerians.
According to the association, the country has become increasingly unsafe due to the activities of armed bandits, kidnappers, and other violent criminal groups, leaving many communities living in constant fear.
The statement referenced the recent attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in the Affa community, Udi Local Government Area, where gunmen reportedly invaded the church during an early morning service on Sunday, abducting a Catholic seminarian and an unspecified number of worshippers after firing gunshots to create panic.
Describing the attack as unacceptable, the association warned that such incidents must not be allowed to recur and urged security agencies and relevant authorities to take decisive action to prevent further attacks on places of worship and communities.
While commending South-East governors for their developmental efforts, the ICA said the worsening security challenges require urgent and practical intervention beyond existing measures.
It specifically urged the governors to emulate the approach adopted in some northern states by establishing armed forest guards to secure forests, dismantle criminal hideouts, and protect residents from kidnappers and other armed groups.
“Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, who recently deployed 1,000 forest guards across the state, has taken a bold step in this regard.
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“We encourage the South-East governors to take a cue from him and introduce this important initiative, which we believe will go a long way in securing our forests in Alaigbo.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the Enugu State Governor in this regard and call for the strengthening of existing security measures to ensure more effective protection of the forests,” Ellis-Ezenekwe said.
The association argued that waiting for the establishment of state police could delay urgently needed security interventions, stressing that state governments should deploy every lawful measure available to protect lives and property.
The ICA also expressed concern over what it described as a growing security vacuum in the South-East, noting that previous non-state security arrangements have not provided adequate protection.
It maintained that the establishment of armed forest guards has become necessary to restore public confidence, improve security across the region, and prevent further tragedies such as the attack on the Catholic church.
The association appealed to South-East leaders to act swiftly to ensure that forests and rural communities no longer serve as safe havens for criminal groups.
