The incessant security challenges recorded recently in the Southeast geopolitical zone of the nation have become a huge concern to stakeholders hence a summit was organized for the 5 states in the zone; Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
Participants at the summit held in Owerri, Imo state on Sunday discussed security challenges faced in the zone with a resolve to find lasting solutions to it.
In a communiqué issued by the Governors and heads of security agencies at the end of the summit states that open grazing which is the crux of farmers and herders clash is banned in the zone and called on security outfits to implement the ban.
They however strongly condemned terrorism and banditry in the zone and nation at large; the burning down of police stations, violent attacks on custodial centres with the unlawful release of inmates, and the killings including security personnel, natives/ farmers, and headsmen.
As a united force, the political leaders resolved to combine efforts and resources to fight and flush out criminals and terrorist from the zone; calls on relevant stakeholders, the political class, the business community, the bureaucrats, and the intelligentsia to contribute their quota in the fight against criminality in the zone.
To maintain a conducive security climate in the state, the Governors formed South East joint security outfit co. called Ebube Agu with its headquarters in Enugu to coordinate the zone’s vigilante; the committee foreseeing her implementation and coordination will be made up with security personnel, government officials, and relevant stakeholders.
In the 15-point communiqué, the State Governors also requested of the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, to stop the influx of IGP monitory units but allow Commissioner of Police, state and zonal commands to handle their cases.
They however applauded the initiative of the Southeast security summit voting it to be a statutory summit that will convene every quarter of the year with rotational hosting among the five states in the zone.
