Enugu Youths March Against Terrorism, Endorse Tinubu, Mbah’s Security Initiatives
Youths and residents of Enugu State, on Friday, took to the streets of Enugu metropolis in a massive demonstration against terrorism, cultism and other forms of criminality, declaring their unalloyed support for the security initiatives of the Federal Government and the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.
The protesters, comprising students, undergraduates and members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, marched through some major streets in the state capital before converging at the Government House, Enugu, where they were received by Governor Mbah.
The youths pledged to mobilise their colleagues across the state and take the campaign against terrorism, cultism, violent extremism and other criminal activities to communities, schools and institutions across Enugu.
Addressing the protesters, Governor Mbah said security was one of the critical risk factors identified by his administration in its development blueprint for the state, stressing that his government had consequently made the fight against insecurity a priority from inception.
Mbah commended the youths for taking ownership of the campaign and supporting the anti-crime efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Enugu State Government.
He said the initiative demonstrated that young people were prepared to play an active role in securing the future of the state rather than remain passive observers.
“For you to march through the streets and end here preaching the message against crime and terrorism is profound. Ordinarily, we should be the ones preaching to you against such vices.
“But by this act, you are telling us that you are not going to be on the fringes or stand by and watch. Rather, you are going to be at the forefront of the campaign against cultism, crime and terrorism,” the governor said.
According to him, greater youth participation in the fight against criminality would substantially reduce crime and enable government to redirect resources towards job creation, poverty reduction and other developmental priorities.
Mbah noted that some countries had been able to close several correctional facilities following significant reductions in crime, arguing that Nigeria could achieve a similar transformation if young people took ownership of the campaign against criminality.
He reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime, saying a secure and peaceful Enugu would become increasingly attractive to investors, businesses and other economic opportunities.
The governor urged the youths to extend the campaign to every part of the state, stressing that their initiative would reinforce the message that criminality, cultism and terrorism had no place in the future aspirations of young Nigerians.
Mbah also assured the youths that the government would complement their campaign with non-kinetic interventions, particularly in job creation, education and digital skills development.
“Your campaign is heartwarming. When citizens apply scholarly and constructive approaches, government will be glad to engage them constructively and productively too,” he said.
Earlier, one of the leaders of the march and Deputy Rector of the Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, Dr Emeka Ejim, described the initiative as a broad-based youth movement involving students and corps members united by a common determination to reject crime, cultism and terrorism.
Ejim pledged the group’s continued support for the state government’s security efforts, noting that Enugu had distinguished itself through a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity, including skills acquisition and employment initiatives.
“We pledge never to join bad groups within and outside Nigeria. We are joining you against terrorism,” he declared.
Similarly, the Enugu State leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Okeke Kelvin, said the association would mobilise no fewer than two million youths in support of the campaign against violence and terrorism.
“This is the only way we can show you that we are against terror. We say no to terrorism,” Kelvin said.
He commended the state government for its investment in modern security infrastructure, including the Command and Control Centre, Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation and the Distress Response Squad, DRS, which he said had enhanced the state’s capacity to prevent and respond to criminal activities.
Citing the recent security incident at Affa in Udi Local Government Area, Kelvin said the swift response of security agencies demonstrated that criminals could no longer operate with impunity in the state.
“For instance, they tried you at Affa in Udi, and in no time the kidnappers realised they cannot ply their trade in Enugu State,” he said.
Meanwhile, NYSC corps members, Olaranju Oreose and Emmanuela Momoh, expressed appreciation to Governor Mbah for what they described as the peaceful and secure environment in which they had served in Enugu.
Oreose, who said he represented the General CDS President, disclosed that he initially harboured concerns about being posted to the South-East but had since changed his perception after months of living and serving in Enugu.
“As a corps member from the South-West, and I have been in Enugu from January till now, I want to say that my journey and experience so far here has been wonderful in terms of security.
“Initially, I had the fear of coming this far distance to Enugu. But having been here, I have changed that thinking,” he said.
He added that the corps members were united in their rejection of terrorism, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences.
“No one amongst us here, no matter the tribe, no matter the religion, is supporting terrorism,” Oreose declared.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
