From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Rev. Fr. Magnus Ebere, the Spiritual Director of Canaanland Counselling Centre (aka E-Dey Work Adoration Centre) Onicha, Ezinihitte-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, has called on security agencies in the country to stop using outdated means of tackling insecurity and embrace digital technology in line with globsl best practices.
Ebere made the statement on Sunday at the Counselling Centre, Onicha, Ezinihitte-Mbaise, describing the nation’s current approach to security issues as, “mundane and barbaric in the 21st century”.
He maintained that the approach being adopted by both the Nigeria Police, Military and other Security agencies during skirmish between the civilians and ny of the security agencies or among the civilians, especially in the South-East as “idiotic and reprehensible”.
The Catholic Priest further observed that in other climes, anytime there is a misunderstanding or killing between the civilians and security personnel, what the security agencies do is to cordon off the area so as to restore peace and stability.
According to him, “in the case of Nigeria especially in the South-East, both the police and the army will rush there and begin to kill innocent people who either escaped the mayhem of the runaway criminals or those that are just innocently coming out, not knowing what happened,” he stated.
The Cleric also condemned killing of any security personnel, while reiterating the need for the nation’s security agencies to embrace digital security technology and eschew their current mundane and barbaric system.
Ebere pointed out that there is no way criminals will perpetrate an act and still remain at the scene, stresding that criminals always run away from the scene of events knowing full well that the people around will either be after them or the security agents will apprehend them.
He expressed disenchantment on the way both the police and soldiers arrested innocent people at the Ahiara Junction about a week ago, following the gruesome murder of Ahiazu Mbaise Police Divisional Officer and an Inspector of Police attached to area by unidentified gun men.
Father E- Dey Work described as “barbaric and atrocious” the indiscriminate arrest of innocent people, burning of so many motor cycles, including killing of innocent people by the security agents that arrived at the scene several hours after the culprits left.
Ebere insisted that his expectations was for them to cordon off the place and calm down the frightened public who ran away for their dear lives.
He wondered why such alleged barbaric method is not being carried out in other geopolitical zones of the federation, lamenting that the actions of the security agencies in the South-East leave much to be desired and even very suspicious, especially the way the youths of the zone are allegedly being killed.
