By Molade Adegbuyi
Governors of the South-East states have disclosed that they will soon name their own regional security outfit. The Governors made the disclosure on Sunday when they met in Enugu under the South-East Governors Forum.
In its communique read by Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, which was made available to Irohinoodua, the Governors said all hands were on desk to launch the security outfit.
This came following months of ding dong and indecision by the South East Governors. The security network will cover Enugu, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi states.
Irohinoodua was informed that the decision of the Governors enjoy popular support among the largely Igbo communities. The Governors said they had notified the Federal Government about their plans and will follow it up with details of the joint security outfit.
The SE has been plagued by a string of kidnapping and invasions of farmlands by armed herdsmen. In many instances, the kidnappers are locals.
In what appears like a repeat of the process in the South West, the State Houses of Assembly in the zone are expected to pass the laws that would legalise the new initiative.
On the issue of insecurity, Governor Umahi said the forum had been inundated with questions on the region’s plans after the South West unveiled Amotokun, stating that the South-East was not in competition with other regions. Umahi, however, recalled that “The South-East Governors had formed their Southeast joint security on July 28, 2019, and inaugurated her committee on joint security on August 31, 2019.
“Forum took a briefing from chairman of the South East joint security Committee and are satisfied with all the arrangement that will lead to South East State Houses of Assembly to enact a law to back up the South East Security programme with a name to the outfit.”
The Governors also agreed to commence construction of Ring road to connect South East and South-South zones in view of the progress being made in Enyimba Economic City.