Elias Mbam, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), says it is regrettable that the South-East has become a violent region amid wanton killing and public facilities’ destruction, including police stations, INEC offices and prison.

He urged South-East leaders to find solutions to the current security challenges in the region.

Mr Mbam, who spoke at Nwofe, Izzi local government area of Ebonyi at a wedding, expressed sadness over the deteriorating security situation in the region, stressing that time had come for leaders to put aside differences to find a lasting solution to the problem.

“It is painful and saddening that this type of thing is happening in a once very peaceful region; I’m worried, and I feel we should not allow this to continue. Our leaders should come together and find a solution to these festering security challenges.

”Government is doing its best in trying to contain the menace. But the government should ensure that perpetrators of these violent acts are not allowed to go free,” stated the RMAFC boss.

He urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute the criminals.

“It is most regrettable that South-East of all places is embroiled in such security menace and so, I call on everybody to be part of plans to restore security in the region,” said Mr Mbam, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress.

He added, “Security men should be up and doing in their work so that anywhere they have signs or receive information of security breaches, they should immediately go there and take action.”

On the recent killing of Ebonyi people of Izzi extraction at the border between Ebonyi and Benue by gunmen, Mr Mbam charged security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in fishing out the culprits.

“I went to the hospital to see surviving victims of the attack. It was very sad and embarrassing that human beings can be so criminally minded to use a knife to cut a one-year-old baby.

“I strongly condemn it, and I strongly call on security agencies to go all out to arrest those involved in this criminal act,” he stated.

(NAN)