Imo: Time To Give Peace A Chance, Stop Violence and Acts of Insecurity

It’s most worrisome that some people still celebrate and rejoice each time there are reports of violence and insecurity that lead to the burning of police stations and torching of public property.

Ndigbo say “Onye gburu dibia n’agworo ya ogwu, ndi n’eme ya nshi agwulaha”! That Igbo vernacular simply translates into English as: “When you kill the native doctor that prepares potent medicine and antidotes for you, have all those that are poisoning you died?”

The statutory roles of the police in the society in every society, including Imo State and Nigeria can’t be over-emphasized. They’re essentially on essential services at every minute of the day. Hence, there’s the parlance,” police is your friend”!

Over the years, the police have remained more of friends than foes to Nigerians, wherever they reside across Nigeria. In the real sense of it, the police are nearly like vulnerable groups, which operate at the risk of their lives.

When the country is asleep at night the police are awake watching the night against night marauders, armed and unarmed robbers, troublesome hoodlums and stubborn criminal elements.

In daytime, when citizens are going about their lawful businesses, the police at alert on their feet at their different duty posts, watching the day against assorted dare-devil criminals, who take lives and shed blood in broad daylight.

The police have denied criminals the room to take millions of lives and destroy property valued at billions and trillions of naira over the years. The police have prevented criminals from stealing cars and children of Nigerian citizens across the country.

Only dutiful citizens that took up as career the protection of the lives and property of other citizens can do what the men of the Nigeria Police have done.

Of course, there may be exceptions in the behaviour and conduct of some elements in the police. But it can never qualify for a generalization of the behaviour and conduct of the totality of the rank and file of the Nigerian Police.

That’s why it has become necessary to join in begging, pleading and appealing to whoever has a hand in the killing of policemen and razing of police stations to take it easy and do a rethink.

The parable of the native doctor and his killers can be parodied here to realize “Onye gburu onye uwe oji n’eche ua nche, ndi choro igbu ya agwulaha?” It can be translated into English as: “He who kills the police that protects his life and property, have all that want to kill him died?”

Ironically, in dark of the night, some obviously angry characters step out to set police stations on fire and shoot to death some police men on duty at the police stations.

And in the morning the news will be broken, and some people will be celebrating and rejoicing, in the belief that they are hurting and harming the governor and his government.

The applicable relevant questions to ask here therefore will include: “After burning the police station and killing the police in the night, leading to the shutting down of the police station, what happens the next if armed robbers raid your village without any iota of resistance by the police which have been dispersed by those that burnt the police station and killed some police officers?”

It may become a case of a person or group of persons cutting their noses to spite the faces. It may be a matter of a person or a group of persons playing penny wise, pound foolish! It be an instance of a person or group of persons being “ogbara uru agbaghi oghom”! They count their profits without considering the potentiality of their losses!

Generally, the English say: “There’s no smoke without fire”! There must be reasons why some people decided to inject the practice of attacking police stations, burning the police stations, and killing police officers. There must be a reason!

Those unpatriotic criminal perpetrating such anti-social acts and actions must have a reason. Their reasons may right or wrong, cogent or flimsy. Yet, reason is reason!

The only trouble is that till date, since about 16 months or thereabouts that the practice started, nobody has been bold and courageous enough to claim responsibility and state his or their reasons.

That’s why it remains very strong among the views of reputable pundits that the attacks are politically sponsored. Otherwise, in all climes, bandits announce that they were responsible for their actions, and demand ransom or something to stop their unwholesome actions.

What does anyone benefit by sponsoring the burning down of police stations and maul down of policemen? What do people gain after burning down a police station and killing their fellow human beings that chose to work as policemen?

We hear that the criminals end up carting away arms and ammunition from the armory of the victim police Station. But does it require such wanton arson to get arms and ammo? Could any amount of arms and ammunition equate the life of a single policeman?

Even if all the police stations and policemen in Imo State were to be killed, of what use or difference does that make in the entire situation? There’s a need to do our homework thoroughly on this matter, by thinking well!

In all truth, honesty and sincerity, it’s time to give peace a chance and address the incidents of burning down of police stations and houses of select leaders in Imo State. What are the issues? What happened? Where? When? How? and Why? Hello! Is anybody awake?

That’s why the planned summit of Orlu Zone is timely. Let people be encouraged to come out state their grievances. All Stakeholders should be magnanimous enough to present their sides of the story.

As 2023 general elections approach, let every politician, irrespective of party leaning support all plans, policies, programmes and projects that will bring sustainable peace to Orlu area in particular and Imo State in general.

Let it be reminded that soon electioneering campaigns will commence across Imo State, including the 12 LGAs of Orlu Zone in the State in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

Truth is that it’s not only Governor Uzodimma and his APC that will be campaigning in Orlu area. Other parties and their candidates too will also be campaigning in the area.

So, insisting on making Imo State ungovernable or even deciding to make Orlu area ungovernable is a sheer misplacement of priority. It’s penny wise, pound foolish! It’s somebody cutting his nose to spite his own face! Won’t you go to Orlu area for your own campaigns? Will you campaign virtually from far?

Therefore, I humbly join in solemnly begging, pleading and appealing with anybody or any people to whom it may concern, for an end be put to their anger, aggrievement and to whatever must have sparked their decision to make attacks of police stations by fire and killing of policemen as their last resort. Biko, vutuonuooo!

All swords need to be sheathed. All gun powder need to be made wet. All gun barrels need to be pointed to the ground, while channels of discussions and probably negotiations should be opened to make Imo State a home for all Imolites. Let there be peace!