Governors indict Igbo Diaspora, pledge to end IPOB disruptions as southeast leaders meet in Enugu to discuss insecurity in the region.
Southeast leaders resolved at a meeting in Enugu yesterday to end IPOB’s continuing disruption of socioeconomic activities in the region.
The leaders indicted members of the Igbo Diaspora for the disruptive activities which they promote by issuing sit-at-home orders from abroad.
The sit-at-home orders, they said, are “mostly issued by our people in the Diaspora (sic) who do not feel the pains.”
The leaders therefore resolved to “do everything within the law to ensure that … people are allowed to freely move about in the Zone.”
A notice from their meeting announced five measures the leaders will take to manage the region’s security crisis.
Among the decisions are to
- “join hands with security agencies to stop the killings.” On Monday, the Army launched a military exercise codenamed “Operation Golden Dawn” in Enugu to deal with the situation.
- Enact laws to back the South East Ebubeagu security outfit and launch in the five States before 31 December 2021.
- Study Ohaneze report on insecurity and marginalisation for implementation and engagement with federal authorities on identified issues
- Fully support the 6 November governorship election in Anambra State to hold
- Encourage and support the clergy, Ohanaeze and traditional rulers to continue to interface and dialogue with restive youths
Last night, the Enugu State Government released the resolutions from the meeting which reportedly took place at Enugu Government House.
The attendees were identified as “Southeast Governors, leaders, traditional rulers, National Assembly leaders and the clergy.”
Army operations underway
A day before the Southeast leaders’ meeting, Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, arrived Enugu to launch a military exercise codenamed “Operation Golden Dawn.”
An Army spokesperson said the exercise will support efforts by civil authorities to manage “diverse security challenges” in the Region.
Although beginning as a military exercise, this will eventually lead into a region-wide joint security operations, the spokesperson said.
The full military operations will be a counter-offensive “to restore law and order … (and) create enabling environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.”
Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, said the subsequent “real operations” will be conducted jointly with other security agencies in the region.
Troops get marching orders
Yesterday, 5 October, Army Chief, Gen. Faruk Yahaya made whistlestop visits to Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States to debrief troops on their assignment.
At the 24 Support Engineer Regiment in Abakaliki, he listened to an operational brief from a Commanding Officer.
He charged the troops to be professional and assured them of adequate support in discharging the task ahead.
In Anambra, he addressed Sector 5 troops of 302 Artillery Regiment and 14 Field Engineer Regiment at Igbariam.
Sector Commander Col. Abdulkarim Usman and his troops were told to stay focused on the objectives of the exercise.
The objective, Yahaya said, is “to curb violence and other criminal activities across the southeast.”
He also admonished the troops to respect the rights of members of their host communities and all citizens.
“The Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for indiscipline,” he warned.
Army thanks Southeast leaders
Gen. Yahaya briefly took a detour from troops debriefing to visit the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi at Abakaliki.
Umahi is chair of the Southeast Governors Forum.
The visit, Yahaya told his host, was to thank the Southeast Governors for their support in tackling the insecurity problem.
The Army chief commended efforts the Governors are making to restore peace and security across the southeast.
Umahi in his response expressed his appreciation that the Army Chief came down to help manage “pockets of violence in parts of the Southeast.”
Governors indict Igbo Diaspora
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