STILL ON ISSELE UKU – UBULU UKU ROAD
By Anthony Awunor
The Issele-Uku/Ubulu Uku road is fast becoming a death trap, a situation that is already posing security threat to residents of Ubulu-Uku and Issele Uku communities and even the road users.
Through the road, strangers now commit havoc to residents of our peaceful town:Ubulu Uku and neighboring communities which were before now, known for peace and tranquility.
It got worsened on the Tuesday, 7th January, 2025 when men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen took over the road. Commuters coming into Ubulu and those going out were held hostage in broad daylight with guns and matchets. Many people were maimed, injured and a few killed. Vehicles were pelted with bullets as they struggle to escape in great fear.
My good friend, Mr Chukwuma Ashibuogwu who got married on the 3rd January, 2025 was among the road users held hostage but he was lucky enough to escape through the grace of God.
With the new development, the Police, on their part need to be more proactive. In the past, many crimes have been committed along this road, and at the end of the day, the crimes were either ignored or treated with kids gloves.
Ironically, some members of Ubulu Uku community are not helping matters either, as some indigenes have sacrificed safety to proceeds accruable from sale of large expanse of land to strangers who they do not know from Adam. By paying for the land, it opens up opportunity for the strangers to live, farm and perpetrate all kinds of evils inside the bushes. Such clandestine business transaction is the very straw that broke the camel’s back.
On the 23rd August, 2023, a cab picked me along the road to Ubulu Uku. It was supposed to be a free ride but turned out to be “one chance”.
I only got to know that, it was “one chance” when we ended the trip at Issele Uku junction at Ubulu-Uku. Coming down from the car and moving towards the booth to carry my loads, the driver of the ash coloured Toyota corolla vehicle with registration number ASB 571 BF zoomed off with full speed, carting away with my belongings.
I later tracked the driver at Ogwashi-Uku while he was buying fuel at Rainoil Filling station, opposite Onihe Primary School. The matter is still in Ogwashi Uku Police Station.
Before and after my ugly experience on that very day, many bad things have persistently occurred along that axis.
Most dangerous scenario that occurred on this same road was the ambush of members of the Ubulu-Uku Vigilante group.
Ubulu-Uku folks woke up on Monday, the 9th of October, 2023 with the sad news of the gruesome murder of a security personnel, Sule Ukah attached to Ubulu-Uku Vigilance unit and another one seriously injured. When the attackers struck, late Sule’ colleagues watched helplessly as Sule struggled to death in his own pool of blood.
Unfortunately, late Sule who was fell down by these strange criminals was one of the most vigilant security personnel Ubulu Uku has produced in recent times. His murder is akin to that of late Chief Chikwe Ojinji from Udo Quarters, who was also gunned down by suspected gunmen in the forest. Just like Sule, Chikwe was also seen as an obstacle to the activities of some criminal elements around town. Their presence, was no doubt a kind of threat to the criminals.
The gruesome murder of Sule, is therefore, one too many.
It is also on record that, a block seller at Ubulu-Uku by name, Gilo was abducted few meters away from the same spot that Sule was shot dead in cold blood.
Despite the damages that had already been done, I still believe that there must be a solution.
First, the authorities in the Palace must wake up, and come in with a traditional approach and do what is done in other places in this kind of emergency situation.
From all indications, the suspected criminals seem to operate from the forests where a large number of indigenes have their farm lands. It is therefore, very important that the security personnel monitor regularly what is happening at both inside the forest and in the town.
The Local Government Council needs to up it’s game in terms of road infrastructure and security. Apart from criminal elements, road maintainance is another approach to security of lives and properties. The road should be maintained as much as possible. When this is done, movements of vehicles would be easier for both the security agencies and commuters.
As things are going now, there is also urgent need for a quick and smart solution. It may require setting up of surveillance gadgets like drones, cameras, both on the road and in the forest.
Also the Ubulu-Uku Police post which is along that particular road needs to be functional. It is so sad that, the only police post in the community is not functioning, a situation that has given room for all kinds of crimes unabated.
In addition, more checkpoints should be mounted on the said road to argument the only existing checkpoint manned by the vigilante. In fact, it will not be a wrong step if those Army officials stationed at the main road are drafted to the Issele-Uku-Ubulu Uku road.
Ubulu-Uku land merchants who live on cash proceeds from sale of land should have a rethink. It is a high time they took stock of who their customers are and what they are doing with the piece of land bought from them.
In some ways, economic activities in form of investments could be encouraged in that zone. Already, hotels are springing up there; however, filling stations, manufacturing companies and other business concerns could help to open up the area. Let it also be known that, the abandonment of Obior-Ubulu-Uku Road has put a lot of pressure on the Issele-Uku-Ubulu-Uku road, making it attractive and a hot spot for criminals. Common sense dictates that, government needs to do something drastic to ensure that the abandoned road becomes motorable once again. When this is done, that dangerous zone will become less attraction as there would be options for road users.
Ubulu-Uku Development Council (UDC) and the Ubulu-Uku Youth Development Committee (UYDC) have critical roles to play so as to stem the tide of criminality, not only on Issele-Uku /Ubulu-Uku road but on the entire community at large. There is also need for UDC and UYDC to collaborate with the traditional Authority at all times, so as to move the town forward.
Globally, the best form of security framework is neighbourhood watch. All Ubulu Uku residents should now see themselves as part of the process and be part of the community policing system. All hands must be on deck and we should all imbibe the maxim… “when you see something, say something”.
In conclusion, I must say that my encounter with some of the Vigilante members shows that they still need serious security training to boost their knowledge on the job. I therefore, suggest that well meaning Ubulu-Uku indigenes assist and support members of the Vigilante in any way they can. This could come in form of robust training sponsorship for Vigilante members. It could also come in form of donation of equipment such as vehicles, security gadgets, accessories, financial support and so on.
____Awunor, a multiple award-winning journalist is the publisher of Ubulu Ezemu.