Insecurity: South East Govs Plan Joint Highway Patrol Team  

To check the worsening insecurity in the South East zone, governors of the zone yesterday met in Enugu and resolved to set up a 24-hour patrol team in all the major highways in the zone.

The governors, who met behind closed doors, decried the state of insecurity in the region, stating that economic activities have come to a halt while kidnapping and wanton killing have become the order of the day.

They called on the federal government to come to their aid in providing security in the zone bearing in mind that elections were around the corner.

The chairman of the South-east Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, who read the communique, said they agreed to set up a 24-hour Joint Patrol in all major highways within the South East, especially during the Christmas season.

The governors commended the states and the federal government on efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the recent flood menace in the country.

Umahi said they however believed that that long term solution was desirable.

He said South East governors had decided to put funds together to further assist the victims of flooding in the five states in the South East.

“We also plead with the federal government to please initiate action in the dredging of rivers in the South East, to ameliorate the destruction of houses, farmlands and properties. We request the federal government to come to the aid of the victims in terms of rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons.

“South East Governors Forum jointly formed Ebubeagu and Forest Guards, not ESN. So, it is not correct for any person to allude to the fact that South East Governors created ESN.

“South East Governors are watching with keen interest the developments with respect to the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu viz-a-viz the Court rulings. However, we believe that a political solution is still possible in this circumstance.”

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Ebonyi State governor/chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum, David Umahi, were in attendance while the governors of Anambra and Imo states, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and Hope Uzodinma were represented by their deputies, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezi and Prof. Placid Njoku, respectively.