PRESS CONFERENCE BY IGBO BU IGBO SOCIO-CULTURAL FOUNDATION(IBI) TO ADDRESS THE GROWING INSECURITY IN THE SOUTH-EAST, PARTICULARLY IN EBONYI AND IMO STATES HELD ON SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 2022 AT NUJ FCT SECRETARIAT UTAKO, ABUJA
Gentlemen of the press, good morning!
Igbo Bu Igbo Socio-cultural Foundation(IBI), a pan-Igbo organization called this press conference to address the growing insecurity in the South-East, particularly in Ebonyi and Imo states.
We are all aware that until about the middle of the year 2021, the South-East remained the safest and most stable zone in Nigeria. But since then, due to the interplay of several forces, the South-East has witnessed increasing insecurity, characterized by arson, kidnapping, incessant killings of innocent citizens including security agents, and many more. This has ultimately produced the phenomenon called Unknown Gun Men (UGM), which has worsened the insecurity in the zone.
Igbo Bu Igbo is deeply worried by this growing insecurity. Granted that no state is spared in the South-East, it is noteworthy that the incidence is worse in Ebonyi and Imo states. Beyond the gravity of the insecurity incidence, the two State Governments have also been accused by some of their own people of being responsible for perpetrating much of the insecurity through the reckless deployment of the Ebube Agu security outfits for politics and other acts of complicity or complacency.
Coincidentally too, Ebonyi and Imo are the only two states in the South-East where the proposed regional outfit, Ebube Agu, is said to have taken off. Please that Igbo Bu Igbo is not affiliated with any political party or tendency. All that IBI desires is not to excoriate any individual, group, or public official. Its sole interest and intention is to canvass for the restoration of peace, security, and stability of the South-East zone
What is even more disturbing are reports from victims and usually reliable sources that Ebube Agu is responsible for many of the abuses and extrajudicial killings of innocent citizens, the youths in particular.
This sad development is rather unfortunate because the idea of establishing Ebube Agu was to complement the conventional Police and to serve as a Community Policing outfit to ensure better security of life and property in the South-East zone.
Regrettably, the reverse appears to be the case, as the Ebube Agu outfits both in Ebonyi and Imo states seem to have become more of the problem than a solution to the growing insecurity in the zone.
Igbo Bu Igbo notes, that from all evidence available to it, Ebube Agu is being deployed as a political tool against opponents. Several examples of such abuses are available in public place. However, we wish to buttress the allegations with few of such allegations with a few such examples:
On Tuesday, October 4th, 2022, there was alleged flogging of civil servants and others at the site of the ongoing Ebonyi Airport, Onueke, in the Ezza South Local Government Area of the state, by military men suspected to be security men attached to the Governor.
In the same state, a Walk for Peace by the youths was dispersed by the Police using teargas on September 17th. Political candidates of opposition parties are allegedly being arrested on trumped-up charges. The convoy of a particular candidate was reportedly attacked on October 19th.
There are cases of forced disappearances for which there is no evidence that the state government has done anything to resolve. The NELAN five engineers handling the rehabilitation of the Ring Road in Ebonyi State as consultants of the $150 million African Development Bank (AfDB) project. They have been missing since 3rd November 2021. They have not been heard from or seen to this day.
In Imo the story is virtually the same. An example is the gruesome killing of 14 youths returning home from a traditional marriage in Awo-Omamma, allegedly by operatives of the state’s Ebube Agu security outfit. This happened on Sunday, July 17th, 2022. Note that these victims were unarmed and simply killed in cold blood. If these allegations are true, IBI wishes to emphasize that they are completely unacceptable in any civilized society. And they must stop without further delay.
Igbo Bu Igbo notes that such abuses as seen in the politicization of Ebube Agu are some of the reasons many people are uncomfortable with the idea of State Police. The way and manner in which these outfits are deployed either strike fear or build confidence in the minds of citizens. We, therefore, call on the governments of Ebonyi and Imo states to take a pause and reconsider the use and deployment of Ebube Agu.
It also bears reminding leaders not to lose sight of the fact that no condition is permanent. They should know that any dangerous precedence set today may boomerang to haunt those in power tomorrow.
Igbo Bu Igbo also urges the Inspector General of Police to call the Police Commands of Ebonyi and Imo States to order and compel them to put a stop to any excesses of Ebube Agu in the two states.
We equally urge the IG of Police to investigate all accusations by victims that Ebube Agu runs torture chambers both in Imo and Ebonyi states. IBI equally implores the IG of Police to investigate all abuses and extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by these outfits. Ebube Agu has no powers under the Constitution of Nigeria to take life. A life taken under such circumstances is murder in our estimation and must be treated as such. Igbo Bu Igbo, therefore, demands justice for any proven victims.
IBI further notes that Ebube Agu was agreed to be formed by the South-East Governors, Ohanaeze, and other stakeholders in the South East. It was also supposed to be established under a uniform enabling law in the five South-East States, just like the Amotekun security outfit in the South West.
Surprisingly, Ebube Agu is yet to take off as a regional security outfit more than two years after. Instead, what we have seen are two ill-defined bodies in Ebonyi and Imo going by the name Ebube Agu. The designated Chairman of the regional outfit who was supposed to organize and nurture Ebube Agu for the South-East had to resign because the South-East Governors were not prepared to establish an Ebube Agu that will serve the interest of the South-East and complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in seeking to restore peace, security, and stability in the zone.
In this circumstance, Igbo Bu Igbo wishes to note with regret that the Ebube Agu outfits in Ebonyi and Imo States do not reflect the original structure and purpose that was agreed upon by all stakeholders. These outfits should therefore be reset as a matter of urgency or be disbanded.
Igbo Bu Igbo urges the South-East governors to return to the original plan of setting up an Ebube Agu to complement the Police and help deal with the growing insecurity in the South East zone.
Igbo Bu Igbo also wishes to use this opportunity to urge the Biafra agitators to keep their mission peaceful and to shun any form of violence or armed struggle no matter the temptation or provocation. Igbo Bu Igbo is aware that the demand for self-determination is a human right, recognized in international law. We believe that violence is not justified or justifiable under any guise. Any self-determination effort that hopes to gain international acceptance and support must endeavor to stick to pacific legal, diplomatic, and political approaches.
Igbo Bu Igbo urges the Federal Government to end the Nnamdi Kanu saga by allowing a political solution to apply in order to rest the case once and for all. Both a Federal High Court and Court of Appeal have ruled on this matter, and IBI expects the Federal Government to take necessary measures to obey the rule of law. IBI recalls that Igbo elders led by Mbazuluike Amaechi the only known surviving minister in the First Republic have severally appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the matter politically. The two court judgments have opened the doors for the federal government to grant this request.
Finally, as the nation prepares for very crucial elections in February and March 2023, no effort should be spared to restore peace to all sections of the country, the South-East in particular, and IBI urge citizens to eschew violence before, during, and after the General Election. We have no other country to call our own than Nigeria. Nigeria needs peace, Nigeria unity, and Nigeria development.
Long live the South East!
Long live Igbo Land!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Once more thank you for coming.
SIGNED:
Amb. Dr. Humphrey Orjiako (Chairman Council of Elders)
Sir Dr. Law Mefor (Coordinator/Chancellor)
FOR: IGBO BU IGBO SOCIO-CULTURAL FOUNDATION(IBI)
OCTOBER, 29, 2022.