The governors of the five Southeast States have resolved to set up a security outfit to check the spate of insecurity in the geopolitical zone.

Rising from their meeting in Owerri this Sunday, the governors pledged to work with the Federal Government in fighting insecurity in Nigeria in general and Southeast in particular and agreed to join forces in birthing a security outfit in the mould of the Amotekun in the South West. The new outfit would have its headquarters in Enugu. The chairman of the Southeast governors forum, Chief David Umahi reiterated the ban on open grazing in the region and enjoined the security agencies to enforce the ban.

It would be recalled that the governors had in the past muted the idea of a joint security but could not muster the political will to carry it through. The generality of the southeasterners have been clamouring for the outfit to check the menace of herdsmen in the hinterlands. Every community is replete with reports of damages caused by the herders to the crops of farmers and who in some instances attack and kill the villagers. Just few weeks ago, some communities in Ebonyi State were attacked and more than 29 people murdered by suspected herdsmen. The law enforcement agencies have not been able to arrest any culprit till date.

The Eastern Security Network, a security outfit set up by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has been standing in the gap by checking the excesses of the herders in the forests. Their actions, though applauded by the people, is resented by the governors who feared repercussions from the central government should they identify openly with ESN.

The full details and modalities of implementation would be worked out and made public in due course.

Source: Drumnewsonline