Five southeast governors conclude plans to launch regional security operation similar to Amotekun

GOVERNORS of the five states in Nigeria's Igbo-speaking southeast geo-political zone have concluded plans to float a regional security outfit similar to the Amotekun organisation launched in the southwest earlier this year.

Earlier this year, the South East Governors Forum scrapped plans to launch a regional security network to be known as Operation Ogbunigwe that would have been similar to Operation Amotekun. In February, the six southwest governors agreed to launch a regional body called Amotekun to combat the growing menace of banditry, kidnapping and insecurity in their states.

Highly popular with Nigerians who have been living with chronic insecurity, Amotekun sparked off calls for the creation of similar regional structures nationwide. In the southeast geo-political zone, the governors began moves to create a body that would be known as Operation Ogbunigwe, that would mirror Amotekun.

However, after a meeting with the inspector-general of police Mohammed Adamu in Enugu, the southeast governors agreed to shelve their plans and instead opt for the federal government's community policing programme. In March, however, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State,  the chairman of the South East Governors Forum, said they were reviewing the situation after Mr Adamu reneged on their agreement.

Yesterday, Governor Umahi, said that justice commissioners in the five southeast states would finalise a draft bill for passage into law by each state’s houses of assembly to give  legal backing to the new security outfit. he added that the name of the organisation would soon be revealed.