Nimo community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has invited military men to help secure the community during the Yuletide.
There have been cases of insecurity in most communities in Anambra State, leading to killings, abduction and armed robbery in most cases.
A member of the cabinet of the traditional ruler of the community, who is also the security coordinator of the town, Mr Stephen Gbulie, told journalists on Saturday that the decision by the cabinet was because of the infiltration of the community by persons suspected to be criminals.
He said: “These unknown people have been camping in Owa land, a large expanse of land in the outskirts of the community, and we suspect that they are criminals.
“It is already Christmas, and most of our people who live in the US, UK and other places will be coming home, so the cabinet of the traditional ruler of our community, Owelle Ike Maxi Oliobi, decided that it would be good to protect our people during this period.”
Gbulie said the community has also equipped the local vigilantes to be able to combat any external forces that may pose a challenge to the community, while adding that there was no truth in the information flying on social media that the soldiers were invited to extort or molest the people.
He explained that the community had previously reported the invasion of their land by unknown persons to the police and DSS, but no action had been taken.
He emphasized that the traditional ruler, Igwe Maxi Ike Oliobi, did not invite the soldiers to intimidate the citizens, as alleged by an indigene of the community, Chibuike Okwaji in the town’s WhatsApp platform.
The security coordinator revealed that three prominent indigenes had been attacked in various parts of the community, including the market square. He added that the hoodlums have also drawn a list of prominent Nimo people they plan to attack.
He begged the Prof. Chukwuma Soludo-led government to come to their aid to ensure that the hoodlums are dislodged from their land.