By Gabriel Atumeyi
The southeast governors’ forum has launched its own joint security outfit for the region codenamed ‘Ebube Agu.’
The decision was after governors and stakeholders of the region held a security meeting in Imo state on Sunday, April 11.
All governors in the region were present at the meeting which also had in attendance Army, Navy, and Air Force commanders, the Inspector-General of Police, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and other key stakeholders.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting made several recommendations which includes:
1. To strongly and unequivocally condemn terrorism and banditry in any part of Nigeria, particularly in the southeast. 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 herdsmen
2. That the five southeast 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 southeast will stand resolutely with the federal government to fight terrorists and bandits to a finish.
Security operatives have become victims of frequent attacks in the southeast geo-political zone of Nigeria leading to abandonment of their checkpoints and going to work in mufti.
According to a report, 40 attacks have been launched in 2021 alone in the emerging trend of the onslaught on security personnel and wanton destruction of security facilities and operational assets.