The South East Governors’ Forum says the insecurity in the zone has gone beyond the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The chairman of the forum and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, in a statement Thursday, said cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers were using the IPOB’s name to kill innocent citizens.
“Whereas we’ve identified some of the spokespersons of some of these groups and we’ve been engaging them to stop all forms of violence and illegalities in South East and allow South East leaders to address all issues raised by them.
“We’re however working with security agencies, our local security and our leaders, to protect the lives of our people and address all issues raised,” he said.
Umahi pleaded with security agencies deployed for Anambra election to secure the lives of the people.
“We’re confident that through our mediation, that of religious leaders, Ohaneze Ndigbo and traditional rulers, IPOB will see reasons to call off all sit-at-home orders including the recent one of 5th to 10th November, 2021.”
He said the forum was committed to political solutions over the present situation in the South East “and this will be achieved faster if all the illegal sit-at-home orders and violence by the various state agitators are stopped in the South East.”
Umahi said the forum would be meeting with the federal government on issues of insecurity “including deploying political solutions in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu which we have already initiated.”
Source: Daily Trust