Awka Community Holds Security Summit, As Ozo Title Holders Vow To De-title Members Involved In Bailing Cultists, Criminals
Ozo title holders in Awka, Anambra State, have passed a decree that any Ozo title holder who engages in bailing cultists or negotiates to set such persons free shall be ex-communicated, and, de-titled as Ozo.
The Ozo title holders who are the custodians of culture made the pronouncement at a security summit convened by the member representing Awka One Constituency in the State Assembly, Hon. Nigeria-Henry Mbachu on Wednesday.
Speaking on behalf of Ndi Ozo, the Secretary of the Ozo title holders, Ozo Ndu Nwakalor, disclosed that they have decreed that, henceforth, any of their members who facilitates bails for criminal suspects would be ex-communicated, and, de-titled as Ozo.
According to him, this is part of measures aimed at checking rising rate of cultism and cult related killings in the town.
It is worrisome to note that cult related activities have resulted in the killing of over 34 youths among rival cult groups in April, this year, alone.
Earlier in his opening speech at the summit, the convener, Hon. Henry Mbachu, decried the moral decadence and disregard for social values among the youths, as well as inability of parents and elders to inculcate moral values in their children.
He intimated that he convened the security summit for stakeholders to identify the causes of the unfortunate development and proffer solutions to the menace.
However, some of the elders and other leaders of the community who spoke, blamed politicians who, they said, arm youths with dangerous weapons in pursuit of their political interests.
The Stakeholders also attributed the falling moral values, and growing unemployment as the major factors responsible for the current spate of violence and insecurity, especially killings and kidnapping for ransome.
The President General of Awka Town Union, Women’s Wing, Mrs Ogechukwu Ekwuozor, a lawyer, urged various security agencies to prioritize security of the Awka capital city.
She decried the fading moral values, and urged mothers to take up the challenge of monitoring their children, and desist from shielding them when they commit crimes.
A Labour Party aspirant in the coming 2025 governorship election in the state, Mr. Valentine Ozigbo, urged the state government to make security of lives and property its priority, emphasizing also the need to provide jobs for the teeming youths to help fight insecurity.
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, and the member representing Awka-South and Awka-North Federal Constituency, Prof. Lilian Orogbu, who made their contributions at the summit via Zoom, urged the elders and other community leaders to help redirect the youths in the path of moral rectitude, stressing the importance of security in attracting investors, and democracy dividends.
