Chairman of the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Emmanuel Aja, has extolled security agencies for their dedication to fighting crime in the area.

He said the council was able to control the menacing security challenges in parts of the area within one year of his administration through synergy with the security operatives.

Mr Aja told journalists on Monday in Abakaliki that strategies deployed in fighting crime and criminality in the area had flushed out kidnappers and hoodlums who constituted security breaches.

According to Mr Aja, one of the major steps immediately after assuming office was to assemble security experts and key stakeholders in the Ishiagu and Akaeze communities, which make up the council, to deliberate on restoring security to the LGA.

He said that before he assumed office, armed criminals had taken over the forests and farmlands in the Ishiagu community, kidnapping and killing innocent citizens unchecked.

He said that commuters and motorists were waylaid and abducted daily along the major roads that led into the community, with most of the victims killed.

“But, when we came on board in 2022, we declared a state of emergency on insecurity. We read the riot act to criminals terrorising the area and assured the people that we were going to combat insecurity.

“We brought in security experts to advise us on how to go about the herculean task; you know that security is not something you discuss anyhow or in public but we assembled the right people who are knowledgeable in security matters,” he said.

The chairman said that the deplorable security situation in Ishiagu forced many business operators to flee the community, leading to the collapse of many private businesses.

“Nobody comes into the community from the three entry routes, including the Amaeze axis of Awgu-Mile 2 Road, the Okigwe-Afikpo axis, or the Uburu-Mpu, in Aninri Local Government, without fear of being kidnapped.

“The primary responsibility of the government is providing security to the people; we cannot be in power, and our people cannot freely go to their farms, businesses or return to their community.

“We established army checkpoints at the Ojukwu bus stop, notorious for kidnapping activities along the Amaeze axis of the Awgu-Mile 2 Road, another army checkpoint along the Okigwe-Afikpo motorway, and deployed security vigilantes to comb our forests.

“We have several police checkpoints to complement the army checkpoints; a poor man does not ask for money; all he needs is security to be able to go to his farm and engage in his daily activities unmolested.

“I am happy that we have given our people security and that our borders are adequately secured because of our synergy with the relevant security agencies,” he added.