The Ebonyi State Government is to set up pure water factories in the state to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Water Resources in the provision of drinkable water to the people.

Senator Emmanuel Onwe, the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached at the state weekly executive council meeting in Abakaliki.

He explained that the pure water factories would be established in strategic locations like Ezillo, Agba Girls Secondary School, Juju Hill, Uburu, Afikpo North and Ikwo.

Onwe announced that the project would be executed under Ministry of Economic Empowerment and that unemployed youths are to run the factories as business entities. He said the factories would be adequately equipped to meet up with the standard of modern pure water production companies.

The commissioner also disclosed that the council resolved to ban village vigilante groups in a bid to curb the activities of cult members who hide under the cover of such bodies to perpetuate crimes in the state.

He said only the vigilante groups established by town unions of various communities in the state would be recognised by the government. A new law, according to him, would be put in place to give legal teeth to the ban.

The council, he said, also directed that henceforth, masquerades should not operate outside their playgrounds in any part of the state.

“Masquerades are confined to playgrounds. No masquerade in any part of the state is allowed to go to where it will harass any citizen of the state. This policy is applicable to all locations to ensure that a breach of peace is not perpetuated,” the commissioner stated.

•Photo shows Ebonyi Governor Dave Umahi.

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