The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is worried about the increasing lawlessness and insecurity in the country, especially in the South-East.

This was said in a statement released following a meeting of its standing committee in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by its president, Eze Anaba, and general secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren.

The statement continued by stating that the basic goal of all levels of government is to protect people and their property, and that the current state of affairs in some states was a dereliction of this holy duty.

The group believed that the security meeting, organised by the zone’s governors and scheduled for Owerri, Imo State between September 28 and 29, would contribute to resolving those problems.

According to the statement, “the Guild has observed that the insecurity in these areas has resulted in the needless loss of hundreds of innocent lives and has negatively impacted social activities as well as the country’s economy.”

The statement claimed that the geopolitical situation in the region still posed a threat to the entire nation and expressed optimism that the security meeting would present long-term answers to the problem.

They pointed out that Governor Diri has given security and building roads to connect all the local government areas—including some that weren’t previously accessible by road—priority throughout the course of the last few years.

The statement expressed concern over the recent capture of 33 people, including 24 students from Federal University, Gusau, and described the kidnapping and murder of Hamisu Danjibga, a reporter for the Voice of Nigeria (VON), in Zamfara State, as frightening. It also charged all security agencies with conducting an investigation.