Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, rose in defence of the recently announced regional security outfit for the South East region, Ebubeagu, saying that even though bandits are responsible for attacks in the region, operatives of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s Eastern Security Network are being recruited as the masterminds.
Umahi, who is the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, said that neither him nor any of of his colleague Governors will back illegality in any form but will operate within the context of the law, stating that Ebubeagu, which was not formed in a hurry, is the only recognised security outfit in the region.
The Governor spoke on Wednesday on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme, saying that “of late, we have bandits that are doing a lot of evil and say that they are Eastern Security Network.
“They commit a lot of crimes and say that they are IPOB and later IPOB will say they have no hand in it. This is what is going on. We will not allow illegality to thrive in our land. Conflict will not resolve conflict. Ebubeagu is to protect the lives of everyone in the South-East.”
Umahi also blamed some politicians for the insecurity in the country, noting that “a lot of people want to get to the top by all means and they hire bandits who go to burn Police stations, kill people and they come out to say that they are IPOB. They are not IPOB. They are just criminals being hired by people.
“The truth remains that the country is going into extreme politics. It is easier to make money in politics, blackmail people and so. We have departed from the culture of hard work.”
Of late, the South East region has come under intense attacks as gunmen assail residents, Police formations and prisons, freeing thousands of inmates. The unfolding insecurity had led the Governors of the zone to launch a security outfit to complement the efforts of the security agencies in the fight against crimes.