By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The South-East Women Forum has appealed to people of the region to support actions of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) aimed at ending violent attacks on security personnel and installations by non state actors (militia men, ESN, etc).
SEWF in a statement on Sunday sued for calm, describing reported violence in some parts of the region as unwanted.
The group also warned people of the region not to fall for the antics of politicians who are desperate to settle scores with their perceived opponents.
The press release lamented that violence is capable of throwing the region into economic crisis.
The statement signed by their President, Mrs Anulika Obi and Secretary, Dr. Ifeyinwa Mugbo said that the last thing women in the region want now is war.
They therefore appealed to all parties involved in the crisis to give peace a chance.
According to the statement, “the ongoing violence in the South-East if left unckecked, could give birth to increased cases of kidnappers, insurgents, militia men, armed robbers as well as other criminal elements.
The statement in part said “We are alarmed by the way politicians want to turn the South-East into a war zone. This is inimical to our shared goal of economic development.
“We should learn lesson from a geo-political zone in the country that is almost desolate due to activities of terrorists’. Our region should not become a theater of war.
“The people of the South-East are business minded. We don’t depend on anyone for survival, therefore we shouldn’t allow mischievous politicians to throw the region into crisis.
“We also appeal to our youths to distance themselves from the nefarious activities of non-state actors who want to appropriate the right to violence.
“We should support the Armed Forces of Nigeria and stop every violent attack on security personnel.”
