Imo Congress Of America Calls For An End To Bloodshed In Imo, Wants More Human Approach To Resolve Conflict
– Frowns At Attacks On Security Personnel
The Imo State Congress of America (ISCA) has condemned the ceaseless killings in Imo State, describing it as senseless.
The apex Imo body in Diaspora (Americas) expressed its condemnation of the killings in a statement signed by its President General, Engr. Sampson Udeh.
The group expressed shock over the sustained state of anarchy in the state calling on the government led by Hope Uzodimma to take step to resolve the remote cause of the killings.
They frowned at the level of retrogression in the state, saying that no meaningful development can be achieved in a state with the spate of violent activities.
The statement reads in part: “We have observed with regret the continual killings of the Imo people with countless innocent Imo youths, including highly priced human resources falling victim to the sad situation.
For us in Diaspora, we are frightened to the marrow to the extent that our people in Diaspora find it difficult to come home for fear of falling pray to the warring shooting squad of the government forces and opposing groups.
We wish to call on the State government to wear its thinking cap, employ security professionals and conflict/Crisis Resolution experts.
We align with the advise of the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, calling for a change in approach towards tackling violence in the State. We must stop using extreme to address every issue.
We say so because the Military should be the last resort in managing internal skirmishes because their deployments have always brought unbearable pains that can only cause arms insurrection.
We believe there are other measures available for us to explore.
We are also strongly opposed to the acts of gun trotting and sustained attacks to the security architecture of the government. If the security agencies resolve to leave the state and turn their back on the state, we can only expect harvest of wanton crimes and extreme destruction of lives and property. A state of war – war; a state run by anarchists. We say no to that.
However, we must explore other effective ways to reach out to these our brothers and engage them. The way to start is to reach out to those families whose loved ones fell victim of the strayed bullets of the security personnel and in alleged many cases of mistaken identities.
The Imo Congress of America said it is prepared to play a role if there is sincere effort to retrieve the state from the jaw of erosion of sanity and depravity, saying that no nation can reach its goal in the midst of insecurity and that there is no alternative to peace.
