•Attend Enugu meeting with armoured tanks, machine guns;raise concern over Monday sit-at-home

By CHARLES IWUOHA

South East Governors and other Igbo leaders who met in Enugu yesterday, Tuesday, October5, 2021, condemned the killings in the region and agreed to join hands with security agencies to stop the violence.

The meeting also condemned the sit-at-home orders, which they noted are mostly issued by people in Diaspora who do not feel the pains the people suffer and resolved that Governors and all the people of the South East do everything within the law to ensure that there is no further sit-at-home in the South East and that people are allowed to freely move about in the Zone.

Addressing newsmen while reading from a communique issued at the end of the meeting which lasted for about four hours, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, said the meeting agreed that the South East Ebubeagu security outfit be launched in all the South East states and laws to back it up be passed in various South East states before the end of 2021.

“The meeting also received the Committee report from Ohanaeze on various matters affecting the South East, especially on the issue of security and marginalization of the South East people, and resolved to study the reports from Ohanaeze Worldwide for immediate implementation, and engagement with the Federal Government for amicable settlement of all issues agitating the minds of our people, especially the youths.

“The meeting agreed to support security agencies to restore peace in the South East, while supporting election in Anambra State and directed security agencies to ensure a peaceful election in Anambra State come November 6, 2021,” Umahi said.

The meeting commended all groups and the clergies for their efforts at interfacing with our youths while mandated our clergy men, Bishops, CAN, Ohanaeze and traditional rulers to continue to dialogue with our youths.

The meeting held under the shadow of fear of unknown gunmen and violence in the South East, with some of the governors attending the meeting with extra security.

One of the governors,News Expresscan confirm, had two Armoured Personnel Carriers and two machine guns displayed on top two Hilux Vans.