By our Reporter
Elders and some leaders from Anambra state have attributed insecurity and other social vices prevalence in the state to activities of some politicians and falling moral values.
The newsmen reports that the comment was made in the Anambra capital on Wednesday during a security summit, convened by the member representing Awka South I constituency in the Anambra state House of Assembly, Mr Nigeria-Henry Mbachu.
reports that Elders and other leaders in the state have blamed politicians who arm youths in pursuit of their political interests, falling moral values and growing unemployment as the major factors responsible for the increasing wave of insecurity, including killings and kidnapping for ransom.
The stakeholders, including Ozo title holders, village heads, women leaders, clergies and politicians, made the recommendation at a security summit.Mbachu said he was worried by the prevailing cult activities which resulted in the killing of about 34 youth in clashes between rival cults groups just within the month of April 2024 and other criminal activities.
He said that the development forced residents to live in fear, saying he was motivated to convene the security summit to identify the causes of the unfortunate development and proffer solutions to the menace.
In his opening speech at the summit, Mbachu bemoaned the falling moral values amongst the youth, failure of parents, and elders to inculcate moral values in their children.
He stated that although gates have been constructed at the entry and exit points of virtually every street, and the availability of 18 vigilante groups, the situation still required that a more deliberate action should be taken to proffer solutions to the development.
As part of the solutions, Secretary of the Ozo title holders, Ozo Ndu Nwakalor, stated that stakeholders have decreed that any of their members who facilitated bail for any criminal suspect would be ex-communicated and de-titled as Ozo.
Ozo Uba Okoli said that it is a taboo for an Awka indigene to kill somebody that if by mistake the person will go on exile for years before returning home.
Okoli said that a law should be made mandating the youth to either go to school or go fir apprenticeship to gain skills.
He said any youth found to be doing nothing should arrested and questioned.
Okoli said that sanctity of Awka must be recovered and warmed that anyone formenting trouble in the community must get a ran for his life.
The President General of Awka Women town union, Mrs Ogechukwu Ekwuozor, a lawyer, urged various security agencies in the state to prioritise security of the capital city.
She urged mothers to take up the challenge of monitoring the behaviour of their children and stop shielding them when they indulge in criminality.A Labour Party (LP) aspirant in the 2025 governorship election in the state, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, urged the state government to prioritise security, adding that the provision of employment opportunities for the youth was critical for fighting insecurity.
Other contributors, via zoom, included the Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, and the member representing Awka-South and Awka-North federal constituency, Prof. Lilian Orogbu.
They emphasised that security was critical for investors and democracy dividends they are attracting to impact on the area.