IGP asks Igbo leaders to caution IPOB, Eastern Security Network
- The rising insecurity in the southeast is a source of worry for Nigeria's police chief
- IGP Abubakar Adamu says leaders in the region need to rise to the occasion and caution misguided youths
- There have been reoccurring isolated cases of civil disturbances in the southeast in recent times
PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Abubakar Adamu, has asked Igbo political, religious, and traditional leaders to caution the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its security outfit, Eastern Security Network on their activities in the southeast region of Nigeria.
The IGP gave the counsel on Tuesday, March 2 in Awka when he spoke during the ongoing Anambra state security summit.
IGP Adamu who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of finance and administration, Joseph Egbunike, advised the groups that freedom will not be achieved through violent means.
Source: Twitter
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
He also warned that the emerging trend of killing policemen and burning police stations in the southeast will no longer be tolerated.
The Nation quoted the police chief as saying:
“There are emerging trends in this area, like killing and burning police stations in the state. They go with different names and such things don’t happen in the west.
“No freedom movement has ever succeeded through violent means. As stations are burnt, our sons and daughters are being killed and anarchy is brewing.
“Those who call themselves IPOB or Eastern Security Network ESN, who are being deceived and misguided, should always consult the elders for directions. And we want to be president, is that how to achieve it? It is a big challenge to Ndigbo.
“What are our leaders and intellectuals doing to checkmate the current trend? We are ready to maintain peace in this state. We are not going to keep quiet to allow things to go awry.”
In a related development, the leader and founder of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has appealed to south-east governors to take over the ESN.
Uwazurike further advised that the governors rejig the ESN and make it a responsible vigilante force for the south-east region.
He made the comment on Monday, March 1 when he addressed journalists in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on the recent security situation in the southeast.
Meanwhile, the president-general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, has frowned on the use of force by the Nigerian military during the crisis in Orsu in Orlu zone of Imo state.
According to Professor Obiozor who is a former Nigerian ambassador to the United States of America, applying force to tackle the crisis will amount to national catastrophe.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
