South East governors to negotiate with IPOB, security agencies

South East governors have announced modalities for the setting up of the regional security outfit, Ebubeagu.

Dave Umahi, the Chairman of the South East governors forum and governor of Ebonyi State disclosed this is a communiqué issued on Sunday.

The governors while condemning the attack on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodimma, tasked Ohanaeze Ndigbo with setting up peace and reconciliation committee to guarantee peace in the region.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE SOUTHEAST GOVERNORS’ FORUM

The Forum, at the end of its meeting, came up with the following resolutions:

  1. South East Governors and Leaders re-stated the adoption of a common Joint Security outfit called EBUBEAGU with her Regional Headquarters in Enugu.

EBUBEAGU will work with the Police and other security agencies in her operations to protect lives and property in South East;

  1. We agreed on the structure and operational modalities of EBUBEAGU and to set up an Advisory Board for the security outfit;

  2. The Hon. Attorney Generals and Commissioners for Justice of the South East States have been directed to work with the Joint Security Committee to come up with the amendment of the existing State Laws to reflect the new EBUBEAGU outfit;

  3. The meeting directed Ohaneze Ndigbo President to immediately form two Committees:

(a) South East Peace and Reconciliation Committee to engage our people for the peace and security of our people and her visitors;

(b) Strategy and Welfare Committee to engage and protect our people,
especially those who are being unfairly treated.

These Committees must become functional within the next 10 (ten) days from date;

  1. The meeting is in support of restructuring, the setting up of State Police and other national issues as discussed in the last NEC meeting.

A Committee has been set up to work out acceptable modalities and submit them to NEC in its next
meeting;

  1. The meeting condemns the attacks on the country home of the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma and other State
    infrastructure. We sympathize with him and call on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution;

  2. South East leaders restate their commitments to our State laws banning open grazing in the South East and urge the security agencies and the local vigilantes to enforce the ban in all States of South East;

  3. South East Governors agreed on the implementation of various END SARS Youth Empowerment Programmes in the South East States as soon as possible.

This 25th day of April 2021.