South-east governors claim that instability in their states has spread beyond actions tied to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Following a virtual meeting with his colleagues on Wednesday, Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi and chairman of the South-east Governors’ Forum, released a statement on behalf of the governors.
The governors advised the youth to be more productive while warning criminals against hiding beneath the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to carry out attacks.
The message reads, “We advise any criminals who have branded themselves as IPOB/ESN to stop killing our people immediately.”
“We are aware that insecurity and killings in the South East have spread beyond IPOB/ESN, as any criminal may easily hide behind that moniker and commit atrocities.” We are resolved to do all possible to safeguard our people’s lives and property.
“Our governors tell our youths to take advantage of numerous empowerment and agriculture programs to improve their life.”
The governors also stated that they would look into the recent beheading of two police officers in the southeast.
“We strongly condemn the video clip and report we saw on social and print media in which two police officers were claimed to have been killed and their heads chopped off by youngsters posing as IPOB/ESN members,” they stated.
We have agreed to work with security agencies to investigate the veracity of this video/report and, if found to be accurate, to apprehend the perpetrators by any means necessary and bring them to justice.
“We’ve seen similar videos in the past that, after forensic examination, were discovered to have taken place outside of Nigeria.”
“We guarantee Nigerians, particularly the police, that we would not rest until justice is served in this case.”
Recall that the leader of the proscribed indigenous of Biafra is still under detention for trial in different court charges.
