By Sam Amadi
There is so many violent crimes in our society today. Criminal justice system has collapsed. So criminals and their sponsors are not just free but enabled by state institutions to commit more and more crimes. The people, that is citizens who are not in power and not rich to buy protection and justice for themselves, are exposed to endless risks and ruins.
This is the state of play in Imo State. Everyday there are allegations of killings in circumstances that suggest political enablement either by ruling authority, opposition or other political movements and formations. As we build up to 2023 and close to what will be a civil war over who get political power in the state we should be really afraid that violent crimes may become the social disorder.
I had a telephone call with a respected civil society voice in Imo State who told me that he was shot by Ebubeagu operatives on his way to Anambra. He said Ebebuagu operatives are now those shooting people and burning houses of political opponents of the government. I was alarmed and surprised. I had read a report that Ebubeagu is responsible for wanton killings in Imo State. I shut the argument down because it is illogical for an outfit set up by eastern governments to protect the people to become a vehicle to destroy the people. It is not believable.
But I think I am the one who was not rational in that context. Is there anything disoriented politicians cannot misuse and turn against the people? To make his case, the civil rights activist informed me that there is no formal instrument or official structure for Ebubeagu in Imo State. No law has been enacted to legalize the operations and no formal accountability structure for Ebubeagu. It is just there as a militarized outfit to be deployed according to political conveniences.
The story is the same in some Southeast states. In Ebonyi State, opposition alleges that Ebubeagu is a military squad for the governor. Already many killings have been reported and no conclusive security report on them.
We run a big risks that politicians are fabricating severe state of insecurity in the southeast for political reasons. If it is true that IPOB has sworn to deal with the killing Ebubeagu operatives, then you might have a sprawling killing field in the horizon in the southeast. We should take these auguries seriously before we descend to a dangerous zone of terror and counter terror.
Journalists in the zone should investigate the formation, management and operations of Ebubeagu in the southeast. We need this clarity to be sure we are not being set up for bloodbaths.
Don’t trust what politicians say. Let’s protect ourselves from violent crimes.
• Dr. Amadi is a law lecturer at Base University, Abuja.