The traditional rulers in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State have established a collective effort to address the issue of insecurity within and surrounding the university community.
The traditional rulers’ stance was communicated during their visit to the office of Professor Maxwell Onyemachi Ogbulu, the Vice Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu.
During the visit, the monarchs, led by Eze Charles Onuoha, Chairman of the Uturu Council of traditional rulers, expressed their concerns regarding the activities of criminals within Uturu and its neighboring towns.
The traditional rulers expressed their concern over the deteriorating security situation in Uturu. They noted that the region, once renowned for its tranquility, has been plagued by criminal activities such as kidnappings, rape, farm destruction, and armed robbery. These incidents have had a detrimental impact on the socio-economic development of the affected villages in Uturu.
The Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Professor Maxwell Onyemachi Ogbulu, has received a commendation from the royal fathers for his effective security strategies in ensuring the safety of the students, staff, and guardians of Abia State University, Uturu.
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Prof Ogbulu was assured of ongoing support from the individuals, as well as the University’s management, in their efforts to secure the host community of the school.
The Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Ogbulu, stated that his administration has implemented various security measures to ensure the safety of students and other individuals within the ABSU community.
The individual made a plea for increased support from the traditional rulers in order to restore Uturu to its former state of tranquility. Additionally, gratitude was expressed towards them for their existing support.
The Vice-Chancellor also expressed appreciation for Governor Alex Otti, who serves as the Visitor to the University, acknowledging his commendable efforts in the areas of security and education policies.
The Uturu-Okigwe, Uturu-Ihube, and Uturu-Isuikwuato roads, which provide access to and from the university, have been identified as high-risk areas for criminal activities such as kidnapping and armed robbery over the past two years.
In both 2021 and 2022, the female and young population of Uturu organized peaceful demonstrations to express their concerns regarding reported incidents of kidnapping, rape, armed robbery, and trespassing on their agricultural lands by criminal individuals.