By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Traditional rulers in the South East geo-political zone of the country have been charged to join the current battle against crime and criminals and also lead the crusade in their respective domains.

Imo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ada Okwuonu, gave the charge when she received traditional rulers from Ukwa and Ngwa communities of Abia State, led by the traditional ruler of Aba, Eze Isaac Ikonne, at the Government House, Owerri.

“One of the major ways our traditional rulers can assist in the good governance of the South Eastern states is to promptly expose these criminals, their sponsors and all persons of questionable character, who are obviously your subjects”, Okwuonu said.

She regretted that most of the rescued kidnap victims claimed that they were detained in a particularly Ngwaland, while a good percentage of the arrested kidnappers have their hideouts in Ukwa and Ngwa areas of Abia State.

She also recalled with grief that “most of the companies operating in Aba are sadly relocating because of this and other social ills”, pointing out that Aba traders, who are mostly Imo people, should be protected from the rampaging criminals.

The Deputy Governor thanked the traditional rulers for the visit, which she described as “a show of solidarity and support for the state government”.

Speaking earlier, Eze Ikonne, commended the cordial relationship between all arms of government in the state, which he said had helped in the distribution of democracy dividends to the people.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the visit by the traditional rulers from Ukwa and Ngwa areas may not be unconnected with the recent kidnap in Abia State, of the high placed traditional ruler of Nkwerre community, Eze Chijioke Okwara.