World Igbo Congress
Endorses Eastern
Security Network
In recent years, the issue of insecurity of lives
and property in various parts of Nigeria has
dominated the airwaves not only in Nigeria but
across the globe. In the Northeast of Nigeria
where Boko Haram had dug in for years, the
Nigerian army has been battling the
insurgents for years without success. In the
Middle Belt of Nigeria and some other areas of
Northern Nigeria, there have been reports of
security breaches.
In the Western parts of Nigeria, the insecurity
problems had compelled the western
governors to set up a security apparatus
known as "Operation Amotekun" that is
designed to assist the Nigerian security forces
in protecting the lives and property of
Nigerians living in Western parts of Nigeria. In
Eastern parts of Nigeria, there have been
serious breaches of security problems where
lives and property have been wasted during
which the perpetrators had not been stopped
or brought to book.
The problems have gotten worse by the day in
many areas of Nigeria necessitating the
setting up of independent security apparatus
such as Myetti-Allah (MACBAN) and Amotekun
to mention a few in a number of areas in
Nigeria, designed to assist in protecting lives
and property in various areas of northern and
western Nigeria.
One of the major responsibilities outlined a in
the Nigerian constitution for both the Federal
and State governments of Nigeria, is the
protection of lives and a property of Nigerian
citizens. At the state level, the governors
among other g responsibilities serve as the
chief security officers. At the state level,
therefore, the governors are responsible for
ensuring that lives and property of f
individuals living in their states are protected.
The killings of innocent people and raping of
women in a number of areas in Nigeria,
particularly in Southern parts, Northeastern,
and Middle Belt parts of Nigeria have reached
a significant proportion that the security
apparatus of Nigeria has been overwhelmed
and unable to provide the much-needed
protection.
World Igbo Congress has, agonizingly followed
the cycles of the unjustifiable killing of the
Igbo starting from Kano in 1945 and in Jos in
1953. World Igbo Congress is worried that,
although the Igbo killings have in more recent
times spiraled into vicious carnage depicting
massacres, maiming, kidnapping, raping and
all whatnots in the nooks and crannies of Igbo
land, not even one culprit has EVER been
apprehended or prosecuted. Nor has any
event in the cycle ever been investigated.
Consequently, all the talks about providing
safety for our people for over seventy (70)
years have fallen flat as unattainable.
Recently, and through various news media, we
have come to learn about the Eastern Security
Network (ESN) that is designed to provide
additional security protection to the people
living in southeastern parts of Nigeria. We
have also learned that sequel to the successes
of ESN, the southeastern governments have
proposed a joint patrolling of Igbo land by the
governments of the area.
It is evident and significant that the banditry
and extra-Judicial killings of southeastemers,
has abated since the emergence of the ESN
On that note, the World Igbo Congress (WIC),
at an emergency meeting of its Board of
Directors and House of Delegates held on
January 16, 2021 resolved to welcome the
emergence of the Eastern Security Network
(ESN), that is designed to provide an added
security for the protection of lives and
property to the entire people living in
southeastem parts of Nigeria and supports the
safety a is providing our people.
It called on the governments of Eastern
Nigeria and all patriotic Igbo to provide
support for the ESN to ensure that the vicious
and unchallenged cycles of killings of the Igbo
and their folks is stopped forthwith. It
considered the support of ESN by the
governments a better approach than the
proposed joint patrol which will, like the
community policing before it, not provide the
needed security of life and property for the
Igbo.
It is evident and significant that the banditry
and extra-Judicial killings of southeastemers,
has abated since the emergence of the ESN
On that note, the World Igbo Congress (WIC),
at an emergency meeting of its Board of
Directors and House of Delegates held on
January 16, 2021 resolved to welcome the
emergence of the Eastern Security Network
(ESN), that is designed to provide an added
security for the protection of lives and
property to the entire people living in
southeastem parts of Nigeria and supports the
safety a is providing our people.
It called on the governments of Eastern
Nigeria and all patriotic Igbo to provide
support for the ESN to ensure that the vicious
and unchallenged cycles of killings of the Igbo
and their folks is stopped forthwith. It
considered the support of ESN by the
governments a better approach than the
proposed joint patrol which will, like the
community policing before it, not provide the
needed security of life and property for the
Igbo.
World Igbo Congress has no affiliation with
any political entity world-wid e, but the
organization holds sacred the sanctity of the
life of every human being and as such,
supports the mission of any entity that holds
sacred the lives of innocent individuals living
in any part of Nigeria, whose lives are
impacted on daily basis by the violent actions
of bandits or terrorists. World Igbo Congress
asserts that the Igbo and their neighbors of
southeastern Nigeria have inalienable rights to
existence, self- actualization and unfettered
access to their lands and property devoid of
incessant harassment.
Signed:
Prof. Anthony Ejiofor
Board Chairman
Hon. Basil Onwukwe
Public Relations Officer