AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
THE Ebonyi State chapter of the South-East’s Ebubeagu Security outfit has been unveiled.
The operatives, in their full operational regalia, were charged by the South-East Governors Forum Chairman, David Umahi, to complement the conventional security agencies in taming insecurity across the state.
In a bid to checkmate the increasing spate of criminalities and violence in some parts of Ebonyi State, the government imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on all entrance and exit points of the state.
The curfew will be in place with effect from Wednesday 28th April 2021, between 8pm to 6am daily.
Governor David Umahi announced this while briefing newsmen after an enlarged State Security Council Meeting at the new Government House, Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The Governor explained that the curfew was to check the influx of criminal elements into the State through the border areas.
He said, “Effective from today, we are placing a curfew on all the borders – entrance and exits from the State – and no movement will be allowed in those areas. But there will be movements in the town and I’m directing the security agencies and Ebubeagu people to enforce it. Anyone caught violating this is taking a risk of his/her life.
“I have directed all security agencies to crackdown on all criminal activities in the state and for those who did the killings, the security agencies should bring them to book within 72 hours.”
Umahi who decried the unabated killings of security personnel in some parts of the country by bandits, warned people against fake news and directed security agencies to track down purveyors of fake news and profile them for prosecution.
He said, “There is so much fake news in Ebonyi State. I have directed that if you publish fake news, you should be tracked down so that you will be going to court to prove whatever you are posting. So, I advise the people, if you get the news you cannot defend or verify, don’t post it because if you post it, it becomes your news and you will answer for it.
“We appeal to our people to stop attacking and killing security men in Ebonyi State, burning down the infrastructure of government and killing civilians. This is pure criminality, there is no agitation in this criminality and the State Security apparatus will descend on them.”
He directed that all wake and other social activities must end by 6pm while defaulters would be made to pay a fine of one million naira.
The Governor directed Okada riders to form their security network, to be involved in identifying criminals using motorcycles to operate, or risk the total ban of motorcycles in the state.
He further explained that the ban of motorcycles on dual carriageways had been reactivated with immediate effect.
While explaining that the State Government had discovered that the attack on Umugadu people of Ohaukwu was carried out by Agila people using the herders as mercenaries, he said the state would embark on one-week prayer from first May to seek the face of God over the hostilities in parts of the state.
The Governor who expressed happiness that peace was gradually returning to Effium, directed the Effium and Ezza Effium stakeholders to form a joint vigilante group to secure their environment, promising to assist them in the provision of some logistics.
He, however, made the presentation of N40million each to people of Egedegede in Ishielu Local Government Area and Umugadu in Ohaukwu Local Government as compensation to families of those who lost their lives in the attacks and to form vigilantes in their communities.
The Governor announced that the Abakaliki Ring Road Project would commence in May, saying the Effium axis would benefit from the project with the return of peace to the area.
He charged benefitting communities to form vigilante groups to secure the contractors and materials to ensure smooth execution of the project.
“Mr. President is a good man. He means well for this nation. You can castigate him if you don’t know the man. If we want to solve the security problem, it is not just for security men, it is for all of us,” the Governor said.
“A lot of insecurity is caused by fake news, if anyone posts fake news, we will track the person and make him face the law. I have to appeal to leaders to be mindful of their utterances. A lot of the nation leaders are talking anyhow and war does no one any good,” he added.
