South-East governors hold crucial meeting over attacks in region, vow to tackle insecurity

Governors of the five states in the South-East met on Monday as part of efforts to tackle the rising spate of insecurity in the region.

This follows the incessant attacks that have claimed lives and left several injured in various states in the region, with police stations and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices being the targets in most cases.

At the virtual meeting of the south-east governors’ forum, the leaders discussed ways to tackle the security threats in the region and secure the lives of the people.

They vowed to leave no stone unturned in tracking and bringing to justice all those involved in what they described as the armed banditry currently ravaging the South East.

The governors also sympathised with the families of all those who have lost their lives during the moment of violent hostilities in the region.

They, however, appealed to the people to exercise restraint and allow the security agencies to continue with their investigations.

At the meeting, the governors condemned the killing of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Gulak, by gunmen on Sunday while on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

They resolved to stand with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodima, and the security agencies in their efforts to unravel the masterminds of the killing.

The leaders also commiserated with the immediate family of Gulak, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State over the unfortunate incident.

They noted that the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators would further strengthen the bonds of unity and trust between the people of the South East and their northern counterparts.

The governors thanked their colleagues in the North for their understanding in the face of the killing and give an assurance that the masterminds would be made to face justice.

South-East governors demand restructuring, state police

Governors of the South-East have reiterated their support for establishing state police given the current security challenges in Nigeria.

Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, David Umahi, disclosed this on Sunday, in a communique issued at the end of the governors’ security meeting with opinion leaders in the region in Enugu.

The governor noted that the forum had set up a committee to work out acceptable modalities for state policing and would submit the same to the National Economic Council (NEC).

The meeting is in support of restructuring, the setting up of state police and other national issues as discussed at the last NEC meeting.

A committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit the same to NEC in its next meeting,” he said.

He added that the meeting reiterated its support for adopting a common joint security outfit code-named ‘Ebube Agu’ with its regional headquarters in Enugu.

According to him, the regional outfit will work with police and other security agencies to protect lives and property in the South-East.

Umahi said; “We agreed on the structure and operational modalities of Ebube Agu and also set up an advisory board for the security outfit.”

He explained that the forum had directed attorney generals and justice commissioners in the South-East to amend existing state laws to give legal backing to the joint security outfit.

The governors stated that they had directed the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, George Obiozor, to form two committees to ensure peaceful coexistence in the South-East.

The two committees are Peace and Reconciliation Committee and Strategy and Welfare Committee.

“We condemn the recent attack on the home country of Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and other state infrastructure.

The governors and leaders sympathised with the governor and called on the federal government to fish out the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution,” he said.

NAN

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