The Anambra and Enugu state governments on Sunday differed on the possibility of establishing a South-East security outfit similar to the South-West’s Operation Amotekun.
The Anambra State Government said he was satisfied with the security measures it had taken and as such, it was not contemplating a zonal security arrangement.
But the Enugu State Government said it would implement any arrangement for the security of the South-East.
The two South-East states stated this on Sunday as there were indications that the South-South was awaiting the result of Operation Amotekun launched by the South-West.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had on Friday applauded the South-West security outfit, which was launched on Thursday to check killings and kidnapping in the zone.
You don’t change a winning formula – Anambra commissioner
Asked if it would agree to a similar security outfit in the South-East, the Anambra State Government described the security system in his state as one of the best in the country.
The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C-Don Adinuba, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said, “There is no need changing a winning formula. We are not contemplating any change with what we have.
“What we have is very effective. We advise other states about our security system. Even those in South-West should learn from us. We are willing to share the secret of our success on security with anybody. Operation Nkpochapu is only one aspect of our security system. We are looking at the security architecture holistically.
“Planning is key in security. Here you talk about the causes of violent crimes; how do you stop them? We reward those who give intelligence. We work with the police. We pay them reasonable allowances. We provide them equipment. We use technology to fight crimes.”
S’East govs have established forest guards – Enugu gov
But the Enugu State Government said it would abide by any arrangement for the security of the South-East.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Chidi Aroh, disclosed this while responding to an enquiry by The PUNCH.
Aroh said, “The South-East governors established forest guards, but whatever is for the region, questions should go to South-East Governors’ Forum and whatever they decide, Enugu State will implement it.”
The South-East Governors had on July 28, 2019 after its meeting in Enugu announced it would establish forest guards in the five states of the zone.
The Chairman of the forum and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, who read the resolution of the governors, said that zone would set up both a committee and a centre for South-East Integrated Security Monitoring and Intelligence gathering in Enugu to oversee the outfit.
The Director General of the Imo Orientation Agency, Martin Opara, said the security of the people of the state was the state governor, Emeka Ihedioha’s major concern.
Opara, in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “The governor is committed to the security of the people of the state. It had not been long the governor launched Operation Irongate to deal with all forms of crimes in the state.”
S’South waiting for Amotekun’s outcome – Okowa
But the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, said that the South-South was waiting to see the outcome of the Operation Amotekun.
Okowa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olise Ifeajika, on Sunday in Asaba, said, “For now, we are waiting to see how successful the Operation Amotekun will be in the South-West, and then, the governors in the South-South will know whether to borrow a leaf from it or not.
“You remember that Delta State hosted the South-South security summit organised by the police last year, but that was different from what the South-West did. The zone came together to organise a security outfit and ready to fund it in order to protect the region.”
IPOB berates S’East govs
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra said the South-East governors and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be ashamed of themselves for the roles they played in scuttling the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s arrangements for a private security outfit for the area.
IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said this in a statement in Awka, Anambra State.
Citing the launch of Operation Amotekun as an example, IPOB said that was the kind of idea Kanu initiated in the South-East, but was condemned by the Igbo leaders.
