IPOB Not Responsible For Most Attacks In Ebonyi, say Umahi

 

The chairman of the Southeast governor’s forum and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, on Wednesday, is of the view that the Indigenous People of Biafra,(IPOB) were not responsible for most of the numerous attacks in parts of the state.

Umahi made this known while briefing journalists on some issues reached during this week security council meeting, held in Abakiliki.

The Governor stated that from the recent incident which happened on Tuesday at Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state where unknown gunmen attacked a bank.

He added that the hoodlums responsible for the attacks in part of the state, hide under the umbrella of IPOB to carry out their evil attacks.

He noted that the attackers, after attacking a bank situated at Onueke, stormed the quarry clusters in Umuoghara in Ezza North LGA to steal and cause mayhem to traders in the area.

Umahi gave 72 hours to security operatives in the state to apprehend the hoodlums and prosecute them in accordance with the law.

“We are aware that there are some killings over the weekend; a policeman was killed, two army men were killed and I think one civilian and their killers are pure bandits.

“They do these killings and put it in social media that they are members of IPOB or ESN.

“Without standing for either IPOB or ESN, but they continue to deny that they are not into violence but for me, criminality is criminality and I have directed security agencies to crack down on all criminal activities in the state.

“And for those who did the killings, the security agencies must bring them to book within 72 hours, they must do that,” he stated.

Governor expressed concerns over fake news on social media, he however said, his administration would henceforth track down those actors of such information and prosecute them.

He said, “We agreed that there is rampant fake news in Ebonyi State.

“Like today, somebody posted that herdsmen are in Ebonyi and they are killing people and schools started closing down, students and pupils started running helter-skelter. Is that what we will continue to tolerate?

“And so, I have directed whether you are in opposition, whether you are in agreement, whatever thing you are, you should be tracked down so that you should be going to court to prove whatever thing you are putting.” 

 The governor enjoined the people in Ebonyi state to put an end to all social activities by 6pm, inclusive of night club and wake.