The Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State Chapter, has alerted President Muhammadu Buhari to the insecurity situation in the state, saying if it persists the president should declare a state of emergency.

It said that the worsening insecurity in the state is a threat to the party’s preparations for and voters’ participation in the impending general elections.

In a statement by the State Chairman, Engr. Charles Ugwuh, Ebubeagu Vigilante Initiative, the local security outfit created to reduce the level of insecurity have instead escalated things.

The statement reads in part: “We draw your attention to the worsening insecurity in Imo State, and to the growing threat it represents to our Party’s preparations for and voters’ participation in the impending general elections.

“Over the past three years, there has been a steady degeneration of the security situation in the State characterized by kidnapping, arson, attacks and gruesome killing of innocent citizens. Imo people have been traumatized by this unending reign of terror, which has created widespread fear and anxiety in the State, threatening to paralyze social and economic activities.

“In response to the people’s concern for safety, and to complement the efforts of the regular Security Agencies, the Ebubeagu Vigilante Initiative was evolved. Unfortunately, rather than deploy the Outfit to address the security challenges in the State, it is being abused as an instrument of suppression and vengeance against perceived enemies of the State Government.

“It is worrisome that Ebubeagu, which appears currently positioned as a hit-squad under the DSS, represents a worse nightmare to the people of Imo State, than the organized network of bandits and kidnappers it was established to confront. Indeed, since the deployment of Ebubeagu against separatists groups and agitators, there has been a spike in insecurity to new and intolerable heights, characterized by a vicious cycle of extra-judicial killings and reprisal attacks.

“The result is that Imo State has been transformed into a theatre of war and butchery, where daily extra-judicial murders have become so common that the incidents no longer merit media headline attention.

“Our deep concern therefore, is that under the current state of terror and public anxiety for personal safety, it will be foolhardy to further undertake any form of voter mobilization and vote canvassing in Imo State.”

It added: “Faced with imminent general elections to prepare for in an atmosphere of widespread insecurity and fear, we wish to request your urgent intervention to adequately secure the State, and therefore pray as follows:

“In view of the use of the Ebubeagu security outfit as a private Army by the Government of Imo State.

“Considering that the outfit has escalated rather than reduced the security challenges in the State.

Worried that the outfit may have been infiltrated by non-State actors

Realizing that the make-up of Ebubeagu are shrouded in secrecy

Aware that members of the outfit which now bears arms are not trained, the Peoples Democratic Party Imo State calls for the immediate disbandment of Ebubeagu in Imo State.

“That since H. E. Senator Hope Uzodinma claims to have knowledge of the agreement between Ikenga Ugochinyere and the Unknown Gunmen, he should release the agreement and names of the unknown gunmen to Security Agencies for arrest and immediate prosecution.

“PDP Imo State calls for the immediate arrest and questioning of Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri following evidence of his threats to Ikenga Ugochinyere before the attack.

“That all Security Personnel attached to Chinasa Nwaneri be withdrawn since he is not entitled to such

“That Ugochinyere Ikenga and indeed all PDP Candidates and Leaders be provided with police security in view of evidences of threats to their life.

“That the intelligence gathering capacity of the Security Agencies in the State should be further strengthened through the deployment of technology, to enable them adopt a preventive approach to security management in place of the current counter-productive combat strategy.

“That your office should take any other steps deemed appropriate to adequately secure the State and restore public confidence in this regard, particularly before and during the elections.

”We call on the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police and the Director–General of the Department of State Security to review the entire security architecture and security personnel deployed to Imo State with a view to tackling the fostering insecurity in the state.

“That if the insecurity in Imo State persists, the President and Commander in Chief, Mohammadu Buhari should declare a State of emergency in Imo State.

“As responsible and patriotic stakeholders in Imo State, we can no longer continue to live in denial of the fact that Imo is a peculiar conflict State that requires creative and responsive intervention to manage.

“Since time is of the essence of our request, we are confident that you will appreciate and respond to our concerns in your usual timely manner.” (Vanguard)