Criminals behind insecurity in Igboland, not Biafra agitators — South-East Governors

Governors of the five states in the South-east have said those behind insecurity in the region were criminals and not Biafra agitators.

The governors stated this after their over two hours closed-door meeting at the Government House, Enugu on Thursday.

In attendance at the meeting was Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, his Abia State counterpart, Alex Otti, and the host governor, Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and Charles Soludo, his Anambra State counterpart, were also in attendance.

Briefing reporters on behalf of the governors, the chairperson of the South-east Governors Forum, Mr Uzodinma, who read out a communique issued at the end of the meeting, said they have “firmly resolved to fight insecurity decisively” in the region both individually and collectively.

He said the governors also resolved to fight the insecurity in partnership with the federal government and other unnamed stakeholders.

“We wish to state categorically that the perpetrators of the insecurity in the region and their sponsors are criminals and should not be seen as legitimate (Biafra) agitators.

The governors also announced that they had resolved to hold a security and economic summit on a date that will be communicated soon.

They commended the security agencies for their cooperation so far in the fight against insecurity in the region and urged them not to relent at this time.

Security has deteriorated in the Igbo-speaking part of the South-east with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

This is the first time the five governors would be meeting to discuss insecurity in the region after the 2023 general elections which saw the election of three of the governors – Messrs Mbah, Nwifuru and Otti.

The communique read: “The Forum firmly resolved to fight insecurity decisively in the region individually and collectively, in partnership with the Federal Government and other Stakeholders.
“We commend the security agencies for their cooperation thus far and encourage them not to relent.

“We wish to state categorically that the perpetrators of the insecurity in our region and their sponsors are criminals and should not be seen as legitimate agitators. Therefore, upon arrest, they should be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.
“The Forum resolved to hold the security and economic summit on a date to be announced soon”.

Also fielding questions from newsmen, Uzodinma, while dissociating the unrest in the region from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom he said had since disowned the enforcers of sit-at-home and perpetrators of other crimes, said the governors of the region would continue to do everything within their powers to sustain the increasing peace and security presently being enjoyed by the South-East.