Worried by the rising security challenges in the South Eastern part of Nigeria, Governors of the region have resolved to form a ‘joint security platform’ named ‘Ebube Agu’.
This was contained in a Communique issued on Sunday after the Govs held a Security Summit with security agencies in Owerri, the Imo State capital, which also stated that the outfit would be coordinated from Enugu State.
The region’s leaders announced that to this effect, “a committee made up of security personnel, government officials and relevant stakeholders be set up to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the south east joint security platform”.
They also stated that henceforth, all ‘arsenals’ at their disposal will be deployed to flush out bandits and terrorists, while they stand with the Federal Government’s efforts in the fight against insecurity.
The Govs also announced an outright ban on open grazing and has subsequently directed security agencies to implement the ban.
“After exhaustive discussions on the current security challenges in the South East and with valuable contributions from participants at the first South East security summit in Owerri on this day Sunday April 11th 2021, it was resolved as follows:
“The meeting resolved to maintain a joint security vigilante for the South East otherwise known as Ebube Agu.
“To strongly and unequivocally condemn terrorism and banditry in any part of Nigeria, particularly in the South East. The meeting strongly condemns the burning of police stations, violent attacks on custodial centres with the unlawful release of inmates, and the killings including security personnel, natives/ farmers and headsmen.
“That the five South East states are on the same page with the federal government on the issue of security challenges in the country. To this end, the meeting makes it absolutely clear that the South east will stand resolutely with the federal government to fight terrorists and bandits to a finish.
“That to fast track crime-busting in the south east, the heads of security agencies have been mandated to draw up a comprehensive list of their logistics and material needs for sustainable success in the fight against criminality, for the immediate provision by the leadership of the South East.
“South East Governors requested the Acting IGP to stop the influx of IGP monitory units but to allow cps and state and Zonal commands to handle their cases,” part of the Communique read.
