…urge FG to fish out attackers of Imo gov’s home
. Mandate Ohanaeze to raise peace committee
Governors of the South-East states on Sunday said the legal framework for their new regional security outfit, Ebube Agu, is already being worked out.
The goverors directed attorneys-general of the five states to propose laws to give the outfit a legal teeth.
“The attorneys-general and commissioners for Justice of the Southeast states have been directed to work with the Joint Security Committee to come up with the amendment of the existing state laws to reflect the new Ebube Agu outfit,” they said.
Governors of the states in the region recently launched the joint security outfit, Ebube Agu (glory of a tiger) on April 11 to tackle the worsening insecurity in the region.
There have been incessant attacks on police stations and killing of police personnel in the South-East states in the past three months.
The governors, who met in Enugu on Sunday, set up an Advisory Board for Ebube Agu after agreeing on its structure and operational modalities.
Their decision, however, forecloses demand by the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra for the scrapping of Ebube Agu.
The governors also condemned Saturday’s attack on the country home of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Unknown gunmen suspected to be IPOB militia members first shot two security men at Oguta junction, killed six guards at Uzodimma’s home before setting the house ablaze. But police confirmed only three dead.
The violence followed the killing of a man simply identified as Ikonso, said to be the commander of the Eastern Security Network, a security arm of the proscribed IPOB.
Ikonso was accused of coordinating the April 5 attack on the Imo police headquarters and the correctional centre in Owerri, in which 38 vehicles were burnt and 1,844 inmates freed.
Southeast Governors Forum, in a communique read by its Chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, said Ebube Agu would work with federal security agencies.
The governors said, “The meeting condemns the attacks on the country home of the Governor Uzodimma and other state infrastructure.
“We sympathise with him and call on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution.”
The governors also directed Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Prof. George Obiozor to set up within 10 days a Peace and Reconciliation Committee and a Strategy and Welfare Committee.
The committees have the mandates to “engage our people for the peace and security of our people and visitors” and to “engage and protect our people, especially those who are being unfairly treated”.
The governors reiterated their call for state police and restructuring of the country.
They said, “The meeting is in support of restructuring, the setting up of state police and other national issues as discussed in the last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
“A committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit them to NEC in its next meeting.”
The meeting also restated the ban on open grazing in the region.
“Southeast leaders restate their commitments to our state laws banning open grazing in the Southeast and urge the security agencies and the local vigilantes to enforce the ban in all states of Southeast.
“Southeast governors agreed on the implementation of various #ENDSARS youth empowerment programmes in the Southeast states as soon as possible,” they added.
Governors of Enugu and Abia also attended the meeting, but those of Anambra and Imo were represented by their deputies.
Prof Obiozor; Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Achebe; Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican Communion, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma; former Governor of old Anambra State Chief Jim Nwobodo, elder statesmen Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, among others, were also present at the meeting.