Insecurity: South East Governors Endorse State Police, unveil modalities for EBUBEAGU Security Outfit 

Governors of the South East and other prominent leaders on Sunday canvassed support for the establishment of State Police in order to effectively tackle the challenge of insecurity in the zone.

The leaders also unveiled modalities for the its recently launched Ebubeagu Security outfit, which they said will work with the Police and other security agencies in her operations to protect lives and property in South East.

Rising from a prolonged security meeting with religious leaders, traditional rulers and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Sunday in Enugu, the leaders agreed on the structure and operational modalities of EBUBEAGU and to set up an Advisory Board for the security outfit.

They directed the Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice of the South East States to work with the Joint Security Committee to come up with the amendment of the existing State Laws to reflect the new EBUBEAGU outfit, with her Regional Headquarters in Enugu.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave UMAHI, the leaders also directed the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to immediately form two committees, including the South East Peace and reconciliation committee to engage the people for the peace and security of lives of the people and visitors and a strategy and welfare committee to engage and protect the people, especially those who are being unfairly treated.

States in the South East have been in the news in the past few months, following increasing attacks by gunmen which has led to loss of lives and property.

The Enugu meeting comes just a day after gunmen attacked and burnt the Omuma country home of Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, killing security guards in the process.

The meeting also condemned the attacks on the country home of Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma, while calling on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators and ensure their protection.

“It restated their commitment to state laws banning open grazing in the South East and urged security agencies and the local vigilantes to enforce the ban in all states” Umahi said.

The meeting declared its support for restructuring, the setting up of State Police and other national issues as discussed in the last National Economic Council meeting, adding that a Committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit them to NEC in its next meeting.

The South East Governors and other leaders further agreed on the implementation of various ENDSARS Youth Empowerment Programmes in the South East States as soon as possible.

Also speaking, Chairman, South East zone of the CAN, Goddy Okafor, said the leadership of the association was ready to support governors on their establishment of the joint security outfit.

He said they will work with the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to ensure that there is absolute peace in the zone.

The meeting had in attendance Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, their Enugu state counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador George Obiozor, and the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, elders council, traditional rulers, Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical province, Emmanuel Chukwuma and South East Joint Security committee.