Chidiebube Okeoma, Owerri
A group, Igbo National Conference has descibed as a joke the announcement by South East governors Forum the launching of a security outfit for the region, codenamed, Ebube Agu.
The INC’s national president, Chilos Godsent, who spoke in Owerri, Imo state, on Monday, accused the South East governors of not having the interest of the people of the zone in hearts.
The activist, described the Ebube Agu security outfit, as illegal, adding that there was no law by any state House of Assembly backing it.
He accused the Governors in the region of trying to use the formation of the security outfit to actualize Northern agenda in the zone.
Godsent said “Noting that the Governors of the South East Zone rose from a Security Summit on Saturday 11th April 2021 to announce the establishment of the South East Regional Vigilante Security Outfit code name “Ebube Agu” meant to combat crimes in the region.
“This move has generated several reactions from the public both in Favour and against the initiative. We at the Igbo National Council are compelled to react that “It’s surprising to note that Governors of South East Zone will rise from an intellectual exercise called Security Summit and thus announce the formation of a Regional Vigilante Security Outfit. This is a huge joke.
“It’s unacceptable for the Governors of the South East Zone to hold such Summit meant to be a serious affair without thorough consultation with, and inclusion of serving and retired senior military and police officers of Igbo Extraction.
“It’s a total betrayal and sabotage of the Igbo Nation for the Governors to have invited Fulani military and Police officers into such Regional Security Summit.
“We also note that the purported South East Vigilante Security Outfit has no legal backing as none of the State Houses of Assembly in zone has passed it into law.
The purported South East Vigilante Security Outfit announced by the Governors of the zone was nothing but the implementation of Fulani /Miyetti Allah security template for South East Zone which is now being implemented by the Governors of zone.
“We are afraid that the South East Governors are playing the scribes of the Jihadist Fulani.The Ebube Agu as they call it may be the conduit for surveillance and intelligence gathering against the Self-determination groups based in South East Zone.
“The Igbo National Council therefore urge the Governors not to adulterate and give bad name to the already existing INC Vigilante Security Outfit code name “Operation Ije Agu”.
“We condemn in its totality the process of formation and announcement of the South East Regional Vigilante Security Outfit code name “Ebube Agu”.
“We therefore urge the Governors to widen there consultation with all the major Stakeholders in the zone especially serving and retired military and police officers of the South East extraction inclusive of all the Self-determination groups of the Igbo Nation.”
