Gunmen strike in Ebonyi moments after South-east governors’ security meeting

The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Aliyu Garba, confirmed on Monday that gunmen attacked another community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state on Sunday hours after South-east governors met to deliberate on rising insecurity in the region.

Mr. Garba told reporters the gunmen attacked Ebele village, Umuogodo Akpu, Mgbo in the LGA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen attacked five communities in the state – Egedege, Obegu, Amazu, Nkalagu, and Umuhuali on March 29.

Some persons were reportedly killed in that attack.

Mr. Garba said: “on the effects of Sunday attack, it is yet to be ascertained. We are yet to get any report from there and I have not been around. I am waiting for the report.’’

Meanwhile, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, Commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, also said he was yet to get details of the attack.

“They said it was a communal crisis, while others said it was herdsmen who carried out the attack, but we do not know the people behind the attack yet.

“We cannot say exactly what happened although we heard about the attack this morning (Monday). Nobody has called to say somebody died or property destroyed, but we shall find out. Right now, we do not know who is responsible,’’ Mr. Emegha said.

At the end of the meeting, they jointly endorsed the formation of a region-wide security organization tagged “Ebube Agu” (fear of a lion).

The governors and heads of security agencies in the region signed a communiqué to maintain the joint security outfit.

The communique read: “after discussions on the current security challenges in the southeast and with valuable contributions from participants at the security summit in Owerri, it was resolved as follows:

●To strongly and unequivocally condemn terrorism and banditry in any part of Nigeria, particularly in the South-east.

●The meeting strongly condemned 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.

●That the political leadership in the South-east has resolved to bring together all the arsenals at their command, as one united zone, to fight and flush out criminals and terrorists from the zone.

●That a committee made up of security personnel, government officials, and relevant stakeholders be set up to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the southeast joint security platform.

●The meeting resolved to maintain a joint security vigilante for the southeast, otherwise known as Ebube Agu.”

In attendance were governors of Abia, Okezuo Ikpeazu; Anambra, Willie Obiano; Enugu, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ebonyi, Dave Umahi; and the host governor, Hope Uzodimma.

Also in attendance at the security summit was the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, George Obiozor as well as top security chiefs in the zone. (NAN)