Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has claimed that the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra hijacked the Eastern Security Network from South-East governors.
According to him, the Igbo governors were making plans to set up security out fit to be known as ESN before IPOB hijacked and began to now allegedly use it crimes.
Uzodinma spoke when he met with some journalists Friday night in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
“The governors will not want to be a copycat, especially with the pressure put on us after the formation of Amotekun by the South-West governors.
“In the next couple of weeks, governors of the South-East will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in the country.
“It is necessary for every zone to be vigilant and have a security outfit, especially with the present situation we have in this country. We cannot lose fate with the management of security in our region and at the same time, we must be careful in the way we go about it.
“South-East governors tried to set up the Eastern Security Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The attorneys-general of the five South-Eastern states have already anchored a report on it and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it to commit crime.
“That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting. We don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats. There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure that there is no external aggression.
“It is not failure of government because the primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives and property of the people,” Uzodinma said.
His claim is coming after the South-East Governors’ Forum Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, said that it was impossible for South-East to have a regional security outfit even if permitted by the constitution.