Key Takeaways
- Maj.-Gen. Ike Nwachukwu warns against replacing apartheid with xenophobia in Africa.
- The former military administrator condemns recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
- Nwachukwu stresses the importance of addressing insecurity in the South-East region through a multifaceted approach.
- The Nigerian Air Force has intensified efforts to restore peace in the region through Operation Udoka.
- Stakeholders emphasize the need for community participation and cooperation to tackle insecurity.
The South-East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, brought together key stakeholders to discuss the pressing issue of insecurity in the region. Maj.-Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, a former Military Administrator of old Imo State, seized the opportunity to condemn the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, emphasizing that Africa must not replace apartheid with xenophobia. Nwachukwu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his condemnation of the attacks and stressed that Nigeria's role in the fight against apartheid must not be undermined by Africans turning against one another.
The summit, organized by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, in collaboration with the South-East Governors’ Forum, attracted prominent attendees, including governors, military chiefs, traditional rulers, and lawmakers. Nwachukwu discussed the complexities of insecurity in the South-East, highlighting that security goes beyond the absence of violence and requires a comprehensive approach that incorporates justice, trust, opportunity, legitimacy, and responsive leadership.
Insecurity in the South-East
Nwachukwu warned that challenges such as kidnapping, violent crime, and attacks on public institutions are symptoms of deeper problems arising from declining public confidence in institutions and leadership. He emphasized that no security architecture can succeed where trust has collapsed, and that military force alone has never permanently solved political, economic, or social problems. The retired general identified intelligence-led policing, community participation, youth empowerment, regional cooperation, security sector reforms, and preservation of democratic space for dialogue as key measures required to tackle insecurity.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke, assured residents of the South-East that the Nigerian Air Force remains committed to restoring peace in the region. Aneke highlighted the Air Force's intensified efforts under Operation Udoka, resulting in the degradation of criminal groups responsible for kidnapping and other violent crimes. However, he stressed that military action alone cannot end insecurity, and that a whole-of-society approach is necessary for sustainable peace.
Why This Matters
The issues discussed at the security summit are crucial to the stability and development of the South-East region, and require a collective effort from stakeholders to address. By working together and implementing a comprehensive approach to security, the region can overcome its challenges and achieve lasting peace.