While the North East and other regions of the North have been overwhelmed by all manner of criminality ranging from the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, rape, kidnap, among others, the South East region is witnessing a new crime wave.
The trend has manifested in hoodlums incessantly attacking police formations and officers and carting away ammunition.
At least six police officers have been killed by unknown gunmen in Abia in the past one month.
Just on Saturday, a gang of hoodlums launched another deadly attack on a correctional facility in Owerri setting free 1800 inmates. They also attacked a police formation setting buildings and vehicles ablaze and carted away arms at the station.
These attacks were a culmination of similar ones that have been taking place across the region, which we have so far not been able to contain.
On this note, all hands must be on deck to check this ugly trend and put this menace on the bay.
Governments and security agencies must up their game in intelligence gathering and surveillance to enable them to proactively uncover and deal with any attempt to commit any atrocity.
Also, there is a greater and urgent need to modernise the operations of security agencies with better training, intelligence sharing, advanced technology, logistics, motivation and change of orientation. This will enhance the operational capabilities of the security agents and enable them to respond to any threat with speed.
Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu can be reached via [email protected]
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