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CLO Raises Alarm Over Rising Number of Private Armies in Anambra

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
November 24, 2005
Posted to the web November 28, 2005

By Anayo Okoli
Awka
ANAMBRA State branch of Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) claims there are now
up to 150 private armies in the state and wants the Inspector General of Police
to revisit the murder of the former Chairman of Onitsha NBA, Mr. Barnabas Igwe
and his wife, Amaka as well as other killings recorded during the last
government in Anambra State.
CLO also called for a mass transfer of members of the police force in the
state, describing the state command as a " warehouse of corruption." CLO in a
statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi alleged that the entire
nooks and crannies of the state were being "flooded with illicit weapons such
as pump action guns, single and double barrel guns, pistols, A.K. 47, etc." The
group noted that the weapons used by the outlawed Bakassi Boys in the state
have not been accounted for and "the number of arms has continued to rise
uncontrollably." "There are over 150 private armies in Anambra State presently.
This figure does not include about 177 known community vigilance groups.
Virtually most of the 200 markets in the state have sects and armed persons.
Most of the commissioners , special advisers, senior special assistants, etc.
who are serving in the current regime in the state (allegedly) have groups of
armed men as agents of coercion and political vendetta.
"Ninety five percent of the guns being used by those armed groups are not
licensed.

   

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