*Police, Ohanaeze say no cause for alarm
There is no stopping Southeasterners from embarking on the annual trip back home for Christmas and New Year despite the security challenge in the region, according to an investigation by The Nation.
Roads leading into the zone from other parts of the country have been recording heavy movement over the last two weeks as people head home for the festivities.
Security is being beefed up across the zone.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, told The Nation yesterday that the command was working with other sister agencies to maintain a violence-free yuletide
“Our men and other sister agencies have been moving round the state to maintain law and order. The command will not hesitate to deal with any trouble maker arrested in Anambra this period.”
The Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Community Affairs, Chief Obi Ochije, said the state had become peaceful again after the November 6 governorship election.
He said those who caused the security breach in the state during that period were politicians from outside the state, adding that all of them had gone back to their bases.
“Anambra is safe and peaceful now. And it’s the reason why the people are trooping in to celebrate Christmas, especially in Awka, the capital territory.
“And you know our people love coming back home during such festivities. Those who were causing us headache before the election have all left the state and we are back to how the state used to be,” Ochije said.
However, he implored security operatives to tighten up security in the state to avoid a repeat of what happened before the November governorship election in Anambra State.
The Vice President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Southeast, Ichie Damian Okeke -Ogene, told The Nation yesterday that there was no cause for alarm.
He said that every community in Anambra State has vigilance groups, adding that with the arrangement already made by security agencies, the Christmas and New Year activities would be peaceful.
Okeke -Ogene said the fear by some residents was appropriate, considering the security challenges before the governorship election, adding that things had returned to normal again.
Gridlock in Enugu as residents leave for home
Vehicular traffic situation on Enugu roads has been unusually heavy following the influx of people and vehicles into the state.
The situation is worse along Enugu- Port Harcourt Road, Agbani Road, Enugu-Abakiliki Road, Abakpa, Gariki, New Market, Emene-Airport Road and such places like Ogui Road, Presidential Road, New Layout, GRA and New Haven.
The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu is no less busy with indigenes coming home for the festivities.
Following the heavy traffic situation in the metropolis, the Enugu State Government announced a deployment of no fewer than 814 traffic personnel for ‘Operation Maintain Single Lane’ meant to ensure continuous flow of traffic in roads in the state this yuletide.
The Permanent Secretary of Enugu State Ministry of Transport, Mr Ogbonna Idike, revealed this while flagging off the operation weekend in major roads andtraffic built-up junctions in Enugu.
Idike said that 314 of the personnel were traffic officers within the ministry; while the 500 ad-hoc traffic personnel, who were already trained, were drawn from the council areas of the state.
Commissioner of Police in Enugu, Abubakar Lawal, expressed the command’s readiness to ensure the safety of the populace within the period.
He said he had ordered the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and heads of tactical and operational units of the command, to deploy all the intelligence and operational assets at their disposal to ensure that criminal flashpoints, highways, streets and other places of public interest, within their areas of responsibilities were effectively patrolled and policed.
He also said that he had ordered full enforcement of the ban on fireworks and other explosives to avoid hoodlums using them as covers to create panic and perfect their criminal intentions.
Abia communities gear up for celebration
The various communities in Abia State have been busy in the last few weeks clearing surrounding bushes and grading their roads in preparation for the festivities.
Various security agencies, including the police, have assured their preparedness to deal with criminals and to ensure that friends and citizens of the state who would be coming home to stay with their loved ones enjoy the festive period without any fear of intimidation or harassment from any group of people or individuals.
Slow preparations in Ebonyi
Preparations for the festivities have been rather slow in Ebonyi State.
There has been no noticeable difference in commercial and social activities.
But a resident, Mr James Nkah, said the situation would change from about December 20 when indigenes working outside the state are likely to start flocking home, although he said the poor economic situation in the country may not encourage many people to come home this year.
“I don’t think the security situation is that bad. The major problem I think is money. The country is hard and some people may not have enough money to come back,” he told The Nation in Abakaliki.
