What Simon Ekpa’s Arrest Is Causing In The South East

Expectations in some quarters that the arrest of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra factional leader, Simon Ekpa would douse security challenges in the South-East may not be totally true after-all.

Rather than a die-down, there appear to be an intensity in those attacks, and heightened tension in the region.

A source on ground to provide situation update told our correspondent that those thinking along that line were mistaken.

The source who spoke to the Eagle correspondent from a border community in Imo State, said the issues of insecurity in the South East were not because of a few individuals, neither Simon Ekpa, not Nnamdi Kanu.

“Are they the only ones important in our area”, he began rhetorically, before adding: “do we even know who they are in this community?

READ ALSO: Why Simon Ekpa Wants Nnamdi Kanu Indefinitely Detained – Ohanaeze

“Our youths are only using the opportunity to protest the challenges we face here in this community”, he said.

The source, a teacher in secondary school, said that the federal government only needed to tackle problems confronting the community and others in the region.

“Come to this place and see how many youths have finished school and do not have jobs.

“There is government provisions and it is like we are not part of the country. Who will not protest in that kind of situation?”.

He referred to the issue of indiscriminate sale and resale of landed property going on in the area, blaming it on idleness and lack of jobs”.

There were reports yesterday of attack on security men, and he said those attacks are from desperate youths who appear to have no option.

Another who spoke from a Bende, Abia community reiterated the issue of frustration as fuel for the attacks.

“These (those behind the attacks) are looking for just anyway of getting something to keep their body and soul together.

“Assuming there are jobs, provision of amenities, and all that, do you think that the insecurity problems will be like this”

READ ALSO: Go After Simon Ekpa, Leave Nnamdi Kanu Alone, IPOB Charges Defence Hqrs

Both sources agreed that it was only sympathy that Ekpa and Kanu were enjoying, because the people there see how the federal government had neglected the region, in terms of amenities, in terms of jobs, “so, that is their own way of protesting, not that they really want to.

“Let the federal government remember the South East today and make life here better, and check whether they would not be peace”,.

“We are not interested in sit at home; I am not interested, but there is nothing the government is doing for us here.

“Go round, you will be shocked what Simon Ekpa’s arrest is causing in the South East, not because of him, but because of anger of neglect”, he added.