Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, has for the second time dismissed reports on the alleged transfer of some Boko Haram inmates from Ekwulobia Prisons in Anambra to Abakaliki Prisons in Ebonyi.

Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary Emma Anya said that the governor “is surprised that almost 48 hours after he addressed a live press conference denying the rumour,” some newspapers still went ahead to publish it.

He recalled that Engr. Umahi had at the news conference unequivocally stated: “One of the few issues some of you journalists sent me text messages was that Boko Haram prisoners in Anambra State prisons, according to them, have been relocated to Abakaliki Prisons.

“That was a very bad news for me and I said, ‘Father, still help me to overcome this challenge’. I started making phone calls but at the end of the day, it turned out to be false news. We need to be very careful because that was capable of disintegrating the state and inflicting fears in our people.

“So, we need to screen information we are getting and one of them (journalists) said a prison official told him but that was not cautious. So, there is nothing like that. Our people should go about their normal business. If such a thing were to happen, what were the criteria that would make Ebonyi State qualify to host such high calibre criminals? The prison space is not there; security is not there; and Ebonyi is too small a place and, of course, the governor must be informed as the chief security.

“So, I want to tell our people there won’t be such because Ebonyi is not ripe at all to harbour Boko Haram prisoners and we will not harbour them in Jesus’ name.”

Anya added: “His Excellency hereby restates his call to all residents of and travellers to Ebonyi State to go about their normal business without fear. He is optimistic that God will help Nigeria to put hehind, the issue Boko Haram.”

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.

Update news