Just like every other day in every other month in every other year, that day dawned. Nothing particularly was its identity. New and bright, sunny may be cloudy , moving around, up and down, up about our daily chores and hussle we all began 19th September 2023 with.
As it was in Imo state, so it was in other places. As the day began to grow old, events began to shape it, news began to be created, joy and happiness, pains and horror, disappointment and appointment, death and giving birth and other life events began to unfold. This is the pattern of life everywhere, each day that dawns.
To the people of Umualumaku and Umuezeala in Ehime Mbano Local government, the pattern was same, the day bright enough, but in-between the dawn and the dusk of 19th September 2023, story changed, the dry land, suddenly was soaked with blood. Panic, confusion, fear and cries rent the air.
Unknown Gun Men, whoever they are guned down soldiers, burnt them, took their guns and set their vehicles on fire. As it was happening in Umualumaku and Umuezeala it could equally be happening in other places. As sorrow unspoken hit the hearts of every concerned citizen of Imo state, those Unknown Gun men hit their chest, flaunting their guns, made some happy and victory shots in the air, drank some bottles and savouring some plates of pepperish things.
We cried and shedded tears but they laughed and rejoiced. We saw gory sights of fallen soldiers on national duties whose families grieve inconsolably , but they saw enemies, hacked down and mission accomplished.
One incident with many reactions. Something is wrong, the center is shaking, things are falling apart and no longer at ease is now a cliche that runs through our minds.
Why would those Unknown Gun men, engage in such act? Killing the military on road blocks providing security to the community? I saw a video where they came out, owned up to the Killing, bragged about it, disclosed their identity, their location but not without a stern warning to the executive governor of Imo State to take his men off the land of Biafra. They equally bragged and exposed the vulnerability of Sen Hope, like the biblical Saul in the hand of King David, who though had the opportunity to kill him but wouldn’t.
As I condemned the heinous act of those unknown Gun men, inflicting pains and sorrow, causing reprisal attacks on communities of their operations, the uncountable number of check points in the Eastern part of Nigeria is one too many.
How rational is it, commanding all passengers to disembark, trek pass their check point before embarking to continue their journey. Go to Enugu Ezike, the practice is trending. What could justifiably be the reason for this practice by the military?
South East is boiling, kidnapping, though simmering, is still there. As I commiserate with both the government of Imo, the families of the fallen soldiers and those that lost their sources of livelihood to the reprisal attack from the military, I call on both the Federal government and Sen. Hope Uzodima to find a lasting solution to these unfortunate incidences that are gradually becoming more like signatures.
No nation, no state and no community survives in this kind of unpredictable security challenges. Security is the determinant factor of any progress or success of anything ( economy, politics, religion etc) All these can only thrive in a very peaceful environment.
Security is local. Would it be more of a rocket science stepping down security architecture to the local communities? Empowering and encouraging local vigilantees and making them effective and self sustainaing ? Would it be one thing too big for the Governor of Imo in addition to his OKOBI ( One kindred one business initiative) Create further initiatives that would protect the small scale or kindred business he is championing? What about OKOSI( One Kindred one security initiative) As brilliant and ingenuous this OKOBI sounds, without a deliberate and intentional approach of making OKOSI work, every OKOBI would be like a candle glowing at the centre of a whirlwind , in no time it will be blown off.
November 11 is by the corner. The life of no single imolite deserves to be lost or used to achieve the political ambition of anyone. Let us not play politics with the lives of people. Life is sacred. Ambition as precious as one holds it dear, equals no life.
Let the communities be engaged, the best protection is the protection one gives to oneself. Give bones to a dog and asked it to safeguard, I assure you nothing will happen to the bone,however obsessive the dog is with bones.
Imo state will rise again! *Oma mma omara la anyi! Ojo njo, ojoro la anyi*
Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com
