By Collins Osuji, Owerri
Some markets and commercial areas within Owerri metropolis, Imo State capital including Tetlow Road, Douglas Road, Mbaise Road, Ekeonunwa Market, Wetheral Road, World bank Road, among others have become a harvesting ground for criminals in recent time.
It has become a daily occurrence for shops, warehouses and private residences within the above areas to experience the unwholesome activities of the men of underworld.
These criminals burgle and carte away people's valuables, goods and products worth millions, if not, billions of Naira without any hindrance or reservation almost on daily basis.
Aside living in fears and losing their sleeps, business owners and likes in these areas have persistently cried to heavens, seeking urgent intervention from both the government and security agencies over their plight.
It has been discovered that these criminal elements mostly attacked shops that house expensive products such as electronics, phones, clothes, and similar commodities. They also bugle provision shops on cases when they are looking for eatables to refill their systems.
One can count only few shops especially along Tetlow Road, Douglas Road, Mbaise Road and their environs where these "unknown stealers" have not visited and left their mark.
The trauma of closing your shops very well after the day's sales, only to come back in the morning, seeing it open and emptied, is enough to send one to early grave or to suffer sudden heart failure and stroke.
There is this conviction that those behind this stealing and criminality are allegedly mainly foreigners from the northern community who according to the eye witnesses come in large numbers.
Also, these criminals according to their victims carry several weapons and have left many who tried to resist or stop them carrying out their nefarious activity in sorry state.
"Why do our Northern men always come in 30 to 40s to rob shops at night at Imo? They're robbing again Jumia at Worldbank Road by Ideal Suite junction." One of the eye witnesses raised alarm
For this reason, many people have closed their businesses in these areas due to the constant lost and others who could afford the expense of relocation, have relocated to even outside the state in order to sustain their daily source of income, living cum survival.
One does not need to be told the effect of this menace on the psych of the people and on the economy of the state. This is worsened by the current hardship situation across the country and the fact that the people are still battling to overcome the security challenges which had bedeviled the state for a while now.
Yes, one will not feign ignorant of the efforts of the state government and the security agencies particularly the police to curb all forms of crime and criminality in state but efforts must be intensified and channelled towards addressing this criminality before the people are forced to take laws in their hands.
No doubt, the people have bear so much in the current Nigeria and may not remain silent for long to fight back against the condition in a bid to salvage their existence and well-being.
Hence, there is an urgent call on the state police command led by CP Muhammad Ahmed Barde in partnership with its sister agencies to focus attention on taming this ulgy security tide.
The people want immediate results. They want to regain confidence that the police are truly out and determined to secure their lives and properties, as CP Barde has constantly assured.
The people need evidence to reassure themselves that the government is indeed sincere with efforts that would guaranteed their safety and survival in the state.
To this end, all concerned should heed this clarion call and swing into action immediately. The police and government should prioritize arresting and bringing to book the perpetrators of this crime on our people. There should be no political sentiment to it. A crime is a crime and a criminal is one every in the world and should be treated equally when caught and prosecuted.
The people should not be allowed to suffer more. Enough is enough and whatever should be done to stop this menace should be done now and fast while we pray God to urgently intervene over our other socio-economic problems.
