Hon. Akaliro Hosts Ohuhu Security and Development Summit; Calls for Collective Action Against Insecurity
The Honourable Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency, Anderson Kelechi Akaliro, over the weekend hosted a security and community development summit aimed at addressing the growing security challenges within the constituency.
Addressing participants at the well-attended event, Hon. Akaliro said the summit became necessary following rising cases of insecurity, particularly issues relating to herdsmen activities, cultism, and drug abuse across communities in Ohuhu.
The summit had in attendance heads of security agencies, leadership of the Ohuhu Welfare Union, President-Generals, youth leaders, and women leaders drawn from the 26 autonomous communities within the constituency.
Hon. Akaliro explained that the summit was convened to gather ideas and recommendations from security experts, stakeholders, and community leaders towards developing a comprehensive security agenda for the constituency.
According to him, the recommendations from the summit would guide legislative actions and executive engagements aimed at strengthening security architecture in the area.
Also speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Ease of Doing Business, Agbonma Jennifer Ukaobasi, popularly known as Ada ka-Ibeya, urged residents to remain vigilant and work collectively to ensure the safety of lives and property.
She stressed the need for community members to promptly identify and report suspicious activities capable of threatening public peace and security.
In his contribution, former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Isaac Emeka Ejiogu, called for proper profiling of strangers within the constituency, especially transport operators, as part of efforts to curb criminal activities.
He also decried the proliferation of transport parks within the constituency and advocated for the harmonization of parks to enable proper monitoring and regulation.
Another elder statesman at the summit, Paramount High-Chief Eze Ukelonu, emphasized the need for proper utilization and funding of the Ohuhu Vigilante Services.
He noted that adequate funding of the vigilante outfit would enhance its operational capacity and help tackle rising insecurity within the constituency.
Speaking on behalf of the youth, Uchenna Iheanacho called for increased youth empowerment and employment opportunities, arguing that gainfully engaged youths would be less likely to engage in criminal activities.
He appealed to political leaders and well-meaning citizens of Ohuhu to prioritize youth empowerment initiatives as part of broader efforts to address insecurity.
Heads of security agencies present at the summit also requested a private stakeholders’ meeting with the lawmaker to further discuss strategies and collaborative measures that could be adopted to tackle insecurity in the constituency.
The event attracted, the councillors from the five wards within the constituency, community leaders, youth and women groups, as well as heads of various security agencies operating within Ohuhu communities.
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