The United Igbo Elders Forum has urged South-East governors to empower the local vigilante groups in their respective states in order to give the security challenges in the zone the fight it urgently deserves.

Addressing journalists after their meeting in Awka, on Friday, the National Coordinator of the group, Justice Alpha Ikpeama and the Publicity Secretary, Hon Harford Ugwu, said there is the need for the governors to work with the apex Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in the battle against insecurity.

According to them, the strengthening of the community vigilante groups would assist in information and intelligence gathering which would go a long way to arrest incidents of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “We advocate for the effectuation of vigilante groups in all the villages and communities in Igbo land. This would help in the aspect of information and intelligence gathering and also in assisting the South-East governors in the fight against insecurity.

“We also urge the governors in Igbo land to work as a body to create the much-needed unity as chief security officers of the geopolitical zone to save our land from the sustained insurgency in the area.

“We, Igbo elders are disturbed by the growing insecurity in Igbo land and call on Igbo governors mainly controlled by Igbos, including Delta and Rivers to work together in that regard,” the group said.

The body also set up a seven-man committee headed by the former governor of Enugu State, Okwesilieze Nwodo, to ensure the unification of Igbos through working with the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the battle against insecurity. (The PUNCH)