As part of concerted efforts to address the security challenges in Imo State, we have urged individuals in custody of illegal arms and ammunition to submit them to security agencies as the window of grace for them to do so still abound.
The monarchs and the police are also expected to work in tandem with the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairmen and Town Union Presidents across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State for the exercise.
As it is now, there is the compelling need to strengthen the security situation at the rural areas, hence the essence of the meeting. We have discovered that the recent security-related developments in Imo demands that security be beefed up at the rural areas as a way of reducing the vulnerability of our people in the hands of hoodlums.
It is regrettable that reports have indicated that most of those who carried out the hatchet jobs in the communities around the state are from the localities, hence the need for the Traditional rulers and IMC Chairmen and others at the Local Government and Autonomous Communities to put heads together to stop the menace.
Therefore, we have mandate them to ensure that no arm or weapon is found in the hands of people not authorised to hold such. Any incident again that is blamed on complacency, the IMCs and the Traditional Rulers will be held responsible.
Furthermore, I have directed the Traditional Rulers to warn their subjects who have turned themselves into willing-tools in the hands of the devils to traumatize Imo people to desist forthwith or have themselves to blame as government is about to implement the Security Organization Law recently signed to come into full operation. The implementation will be in an indigenous manner that reflects a Bottom-Top- Approach.
I noted that the implementation will take the form of a Security Council existing in the localities with the Traditional rulers as the Chairmen and members to include President General of Town Unions, Youth Leaders, Woman Leaders and others. The functions of the Security Council will among others, include: fishing out the criminals in the communities and collating intelligence for security agencies to work with.
I seized the opportunity to send out a warning to detractors and those threatening to make Imo State ungovernable that we will never fold our arms and allow them succeed.
