Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma yesterday said that the regional security outfit, Ebubeagu, was frustrated by Southeast leaders.

The outfit was established by governors in 2021 to address escalating security concerns.

But the governor said the idea was ultimately discontinued due to insufficient support from political leaders.

He said he was the only governor who took bold steps to address the security disturbances in the region, but his efforts were not backed by his counterparts.

Uzodimma spoke through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Onwuasoanya Jones.

He said Ebube-Agu would have complemented the efforts of the conventional security outfit, but it never materialised because many political gladiators developed cold feet confronting the non-state actors.

Uzodimma said: ?I was at the driving seat of instituting a regional security outfit that would be recruited from among the youths of the Southeast region, to complement the efforts of the conventional security outfit.

?This outfit was to be named Ebubeagu. But, it never really saw the light of the day, because many political gladiators developed cold feet towards confronting frontally, these murderous and criminal elements.?

The governor said he mobilised resources to quell the uprising and even sent a bill to the Imo State House of Assembly to form the Imo Security Organisation (ISO).

?However, the ISO?s success in combating terrorism was hindered by the reluctance of neighbouring states to set up their own local security outfits.

?Many others sold the narrative that the boys were defending Ala Igbo, hence, should be left alone.

?But I saw through the imprudence of treating these criminals with glove hands and launched out against them with a view to securing the lives and properties of Imolites, which is, of course, the most important of my duties and the most prime of my oath of office,? Uzodimma said.

The governor believes that if other Southeast governors had followed his lead, the region would not be experiencing the current level of insecurity.

He also noted that his efforts to secure Imo were met with resistance and criticism from some quarters, but he remains committed to protecting the lives and properties of his people. (The Nation)

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