As Nigeria’s Federal Government grapples with  insurgency in the Northern part of the Country, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, South-East, Nigeria proffers that more investments and massive job creation are the panacea to crimes, criminality and other forms of insecurity challenge in the region.

Gov. Ikpeazu argues that government alone can't provide the needed employment opportunities needed to curb insecurity in the region. He also appealed for collaborative efforts of neighbouring State governments in the region in the fight against insecurity.

Ikpeazu reiterated that crime and criminality is the great threat to the region’s prosperity and progress.
"Crime has really touched and affected our values. We are a hardworking people, but crimes have been imported into our lexicon, lifestyles that have derailed us and it is fast destroying our values. Not until we come together to fight crime, our hopes and aspirations as the people of old eastern region will remain a mirage.

"We must rise up to protect the value which we are known for, which is hard-work. We must do everything we can to hold down crime and criminals in our areas.

" We expect our people join in this fight by investing in the region, and help in finding solution to the problem of unemployment that has created rooms for all kinds of crimes and criminality in our region."

The Abia governor made the appeal at a one-day South-East/Delta States' security conference organized by the Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, in Awka, the State capital.

The conference which has the burden of finding a lasting solution to the security challenge facing the South-East and Delta has as its theme “ Security, Bedrock of Governance’’. Governors of Delta and Enugu State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi attended, while the Ebonyi State governor was represented by the State's Secretary to the State Government.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arese and the Director General of Department of State Security (DSS) Lawal Musa Daura, delivered papers on security.