Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday urged security agencies to save the Southeast from the debilitating sit-at-home.
He described the discredited exercise as embarrassing.
According to the governor, the sit-at-home has almost crippled the region’s economy, commerce and trade and should not be allowed to continue unattended to.
Uzodimma made the call when he received the Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ayuba Chugali and the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 9 Umuahia, Echeng Eyo Echeng, both of whom were on courtesy calls.
The governor, who met them separately, called for synergy.
He described the role of the Navy in maritime security as a “critical item that must be strengthened,” acknowledging that the “Nigerian Navy and other security agencies have distinguished themselves in their job.”
To both organisations, the governor emphasised the need for partnership “to ensure the best of results in security of lives and property of Nigerians, especially in the Southeast.”
The governor urged the security agencies to do everything to deal a blow to the criminals.
He thanked Echeng for his commitment to ridding the region of criminals.
The governor said no state can develop in the absence of peace, hence security agencies must end harassment and threats from hoodlums.
His words: “Please recover the confidence of our people and remove fear in them. Please take over the political space and protect our people so that we can exist.”
Chugali promised that the Navy would work in partnership with other agencies and the communities to secure and protect all legal economic activities within the area in addition to saving lives and property.
Echeng said hoodlums should not be allowed to give directives and wondered how those who want to rule their people go about killing their people.
“Records show that 99 per cent of those carrying out the act are our people and 99 per cent of victims are also our people,” he said.
Echeng advised residents of Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states to go about their normal businesses, assuring them of the readiness of his men to continue to sustain peace and provide adequate security.
He said: “Police are out to provide the needed security in Southeast. We will take the fight to those people who don’t want our peace and collective well-being.
“We will not allow our life and properties to be controlled by these miscreants. We are ready to take this miscreant on. This fight is winnable and we are going to win this fight.”