Fr Princely Onyenwe
Imo Community has cried out their blood calling on the comptroller of Prisons and the Imo state Government to as a matter of urgency remove and seal the locations Hausa cum Fulani Herdsmen are using to perpetuate criminal activities on daily basis.
Avu Junction located along Owerri- PortHarcourt road is allegedly used for open prostitution and criminal hide out 9News Nigeria reports.
9News Nigeria (Owerri) gathered that those shanty structures in this particular area mentioned houses prostitutes who are readily available for sexual satisfaction.
The location which is under the care and management of Prison Authority also houses recreation facilities and mini rooms were bars, after-hours joints, pool halls, strip joints and transient motels are existing till the time of this report by 9News Nigeria.
The area is a verifiable hollow or cavern used especially as a hideout and a center of secret activity. Smoking, peddling of drugs, stealing and luring little children to sexual abuses happen on daily basis. Infact the area is tagged “corrupt” in the eyes of the law.
Another location is within the Obinze forest which linked Ihiagwa and Nekede farmlands where these criminals and Fulani Herdsmen domiciled.
During my investigation, 9News Nigeria gathered that the area of land used for these nefarious activities was originally allocated to Prison cum Correctional Service Authority by the state ministry of lands as gazetted but now being used for criminal hideout.
Avu Community has several times call on the management to sanitize the areas but frowned at its outcome which has corrupted the community.
An expert told 9News Nigeria that such crime zone is not suppose to be operational within such kilometer radius to the capital city of the state. The state government have to demolish the shanties and recall the ownership which was originally allotted for Prison training school and not Prison permitted crime zone.
Same is applicable to the empty edifices built within Imo state by previous government which is now turned criminal Den and fast decaying.
While Speaking with 9News Nigeria correspodent, Avu, Obinze and Nekede Community leaders however regretted the sudden degeneration of their area to Fulani Herders turned criminals.
They however called on Imo State Government led by Governor Hope Uzodinma to come to their rescue to open the bushes around these Communities and send away the Fulani Herders cum Hausa criminals to their states or better still to the military barracks where they have claimed to be their sponsors.
The Communities noted with dismay the high rise of stealing, abduction, rape and prostitution in going the area.
However the Alhaji Auwal Baba Suleiman Sarkin Hausawa Owere Imo state has denied the allegations while stating that those criminals and abductors are not Hausas.
He further stated that the Hausas he can avow for are those registered and known to the Hausa Community in the state.
He therefore call on the security agencies to fish out these criminals and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others.
Meanwhile high delegate meetings are going on to braise up actions to fortify security in Imo Communities and the people are expected to cooperate with security agencies to report criminal elements and activities in their areas.
Vigilante groups are suppose to be functional and operational twenty four hours of the day in the area and be well equiped and taken care off to carry out their security duties very effectively and productive.
Kidnapping has become rampant in Avu, Obinze and Nekede, Ihiagwa communities and the people are scared to farm in the farmlands where these abductors reside.
A notorious Hotel in the area is allegedly used to harbor criminals elements within the busy forest calling on government to as a matter of urgency open up the forest now that FUTO has agreed to settle with land owners.
The forest was delayed through series of court litigations but the investors are ready to cash into the forest and make it more habitable than a criminal hideout.
9News Nigeria was taken round the Prison acquired portion of land which is too largely occupied by Fulani, Hausa and many other tribes who turned the area to a hot business zone and criminal hideout.
When taken round the area of land, I sighted a cell, ie single room (as in a convent or prison) used to detain and prosecute people by the management.
There is also a mini mosque within the environment and businesses of all kinds are springing up on daily basis. Regrettedly the youths of the area are infested with this springs of corruption and are always spotted catching fun, playing snooker game, drinking, smoking and patronizing the Ashawos at the Avu Junction Hideout.
The farmlands around this joint are used for several criminal activities and patronage by crime partners as reported by 9News Nigeria.
Several attempts to speak with the manager of Avu crime area proved abortive.
9News Nigeria (Owerri) For inquiries on this news contact 9News Nigeria Imo State @08036856526
