Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Wednesday inaugurated over 5,000 operatives of the State Command of the Ebubeagu South East regional security outfit, directing them to operate under Police supervision.
Speaking at the inauguration which took place in Abakaliki, the State capital, Governor Umahi said the operatives would be the first consideration when State Police finally take off.
According to Umahi, “Ebubeagu must operate within the supervision of the police and other security agencies. Let me say this for the second time that Ebubeagu is not alternate police.
“But definitely, when state police is given assent, you can say you are already one, but with social package and benefits. I read where Ohanaeze, our cultural leaders directed that we must launch this Ebubeagu before the end of the year. Actually, that is what we the South-East Governors agreed.
“And I saw where someone that says he is IPOB opened his mouth, warning Governors and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, it’s very unfortunate. The South-East Governors sworn an oath to protect the people.
“I don’t know the constitutional provision the said IPOB man was talking from. But he must know that our economy has been destroyed; there are so much fears in our people through the activities of IPOB, that even when IPOB said it had stopped, all kinds of criminalities by people who hijacked the IPOB activities continued to thrive in some parts of the region.”
Umahi said South East Governors would not fold their hands and watch such things happen.
He added that the security outfit is not meant to fight any legal organisation, but to assist the Police to flush out criminals and to deal with the them according to the law.