In a few days from now the usual Jingle bells would start ringing heralding the Christmas season for this year. The Yuletide climaxes the last four-months of the year popularly called the “ember months.”
In all years, this period is characterised by rise in crime wave occasioned by increased socio-economic activities.There is also the angle of desperate quest for money and other material acquisition by some people who habour the erroneous notion that Christmas is a period to make money by hook or crook.
Incidences of ritual killings, kidnapping and its twin brother – ‘one chance,’ armed robbery, stealing, among others, are common crimes associated with Yuletide.
The Yuletide season is also characterised by increase in vehicular movement which often results in road accidents.
Here in Imo state and other states of the South-East apparently grapple with security challenges. This makes it imperative for security agencies to redouble their efforts especially, in the area of surveillance and patrol.
The situation becomes even more instructive as large numbers of imolites resident in other states and those living outside Nigeria are expected to
visit home.
Operatives of the security network including the traffic division and other relevant authorities concerned, have a duty to ensure safety on the highways. There is the need for relevant authorities to keep tab on the activities of hotels and guest houses as it is expected that many of those who return home for Christmas often lodge or retire in hotels and guest houses within the period.
The people’s vigilance is advocated since security agents are not spirits, but rely on intelligence gathered from amongst the people.