Southeast Youth Agitation Will Be Better Resolved Politically – Governors
The South East Governors and Leaders have declared that all issues relating to youth agitation in the region and its fallout are better settled politically on a negotiation table.
The leaders therefore advised those who were misled to carry arms against the people and security agencies in the region to as a matter of urgency surrender their arms to the Governors and get rehabilitated back to the society.
This was as the leaders condemned in strong terms, the video clip and write-up trending in some social and print media where two policemen were said to have been killed and their heads cut-off by youths who styled themselves as members of IPOB/ESN.
They thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his consideration of a political solution to the youth agitation problem, saying that he has demonstrated that he is a good father who listens to his children.
The governors and leaders of the region warned all criminals who have styled themselves as IPOB/ESN to kill their people to immediately stop, adding that they are aware that the insecurity and killings in the South East have gone beyond IPOB/ESN as any criminal finds it easy to hide under such a name to commit crimes.
These were contained in a statement after an emergency virtual meeting of the Governors with a resolve to work with security agencies to determine the authenticity of the video/report, stressing that if found to be true, they want the perpetrators apprehended by all possible means to face the law.
The statement which was issued by the Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State, said that they are aware of similar videos in the past which were subjected to forensic review and found to have happened outside Nigeria thus, assured Nigerians especially the Police community that they would not rest until justice is done on the matter.
It stated the resolve and commitment of the Governors in the fight against hard drugs in the region especially the new one called Methamphetamine, locally known in South East as Mkpurumiri.
Accordingly, the Leaders resolved that all shops and locations where any hard drug is sold will be forfeited to the State Government and all those promoting the trade or indulging in hard drug shall be seriously isolated to face the law.
The statement also said that the rehabilitation of those misled into hard drug is also ongoing and therefore urged community leaders to give secret phone calls through the special numbers offered by the Governors on security and hard drug.
The governors commended the youths for the relative peace presently being enjoyed in the South East saying they are committed to the welfare of the people.
The statement further states; “We are determined to do everything to protect the lives and properties of our people. Our youths are advised to leverage on the various empowerment and agricultural programmes by our Governors to better their lives.
“On the issue of agitation by the youths, we are reviewing the work of Ohaneze Ndigbo committees on this matter and will soon call a larger stakeholders’ meeting to address such.
“We urge our people to resume their Monday businesses as we assure them of adequate security. We thank all our security agencies for their commitment to securing the lives and properties of our people in the South East and we assure them of our continued support as they discharge their duties,” the statement said.