Ex-convicts responsible for S-East Crimes -group

By Cyprian  Ebele, Onitsha 

The South East Security Network, SESN, on Sunday disclosed that ex-convicts are responsible for all manners of crimes and criminality being experienced in Southeast geo political zone.

The group in a statement after their 2025  New Year  meeting  held in Awka to analyse the deplorable insecurity situation in the zone said  ex-convicts contributed significantly to kidnapping, car snatching and killings in the zone.

The group in a statement signed by their zonal leader, Col. Jude Obi (rtd,) said that their investigation showed that most of the major criminal activities in areas like Onitsha, Ogbaru, Owerri and  municipalities,Ukwu oji,Awo Idemili, Umunze, Ogbunka, Ogbe-Ukwu, Osumughu, Iheteowerri ,Ogberuru,Obibi Ochasi Ukwuru, among others, had ex-convicts as arrowheads.

This,  they said, called to question the  Criminal Justice System in the country and the process of reformation of inmates in our Correctional Centres.

“Why should ex-convicts be hardened  after serving out their jail terms? Even those still  serving their jail terms commit crimes right from Correctional Centres.Why should it be so?  

“What are the process of correcting them? There should be something fundamentally wrong with our Correctional measures if after their terms they go back hardened and join criminal gangs.” said the Network.

They called for comprehensive overhauling of the Correctional Centres to cater for the total wellbeing of the inmates,  even after they might have completed their jail terms.

“Our Governments should evolve a process that will take care of these ex-convicts after coming out from Correctional Centres. Government can either provide them with  jobs or pay them monthly stipends to fully help  integrate them into the larger society” said the group.

The Network attributed high crime rate in the zone and even beyond to  jail break in Owerri, Imo State, Onitsha, Edo State  and other parts of the country sometimes ago, where over 4000 inmates broke loose and poured into the society , now terrorizing the people.

The group said some of these inmates were hardened and condemned criminals who came out and became more aggressive.