IPOB to Southeast youth: Embrace Ebubeagu, join your ancestors

The recently unveiled security outfit by the South-east governors – Ebubeagu – may have come under threat as the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) warned Igbo youth against joining the body.

Ebubeagu was launched by the South-East Governors’ Forum, to among other things, tackle the spate of insecurity.

Addressing journalists Sunday in Owerri, Imos state during the unveiling, the forum’s chairman and governor of Ebonyi state, said the outfit with headquarters in Enugu, would coordinate security in the region.

They also called for the withdrawal of the IGP monitoring unit from the entire region and called on the federal government to increase the funding of military activities in the South-east states.

IPOB warns

But sounding a note of warning to youth with the intent of joining the security outfit, IPOB said it hadalready formed the Eastern Security Network (ESN) which repeatedly have clashes with the Military and the Police.

In a statement Tuesday, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, warned that “any person that joins EBUBEAGU to spy Eastern Security Network should be prepared to join his ancestors.

“We therefore warn our youths to have nothing to do with the so-called Ebubeagu security outfit which was ostensibly formed to sabotage IPOB and ESN. Anyone who neglects this warning and thinks he can hide under the cloak of EBUBEAGU to spy on ESN should be prepared to join his ancestors.

“The protection of all Biafrans is our priority and we are prepared to sacrifice anything to achieve this. We are aware of plans to decimate indigenous tribes in Nigeria.

“We are also aware of federal government’s tacit support for this evil agenda. But IPOB and ESN promise them that no inch of our land will be given to Fulani herdsmen in the East,” he said.

IPOB described the action of the governor as an unnecessary waste of resources, faulting the manner in which it was formed.

Powerful said: “It has come to the attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that we therefore warn our youths not to have anything to do with the so-called Ebubeagu security outfit ostensibly formed to sabotage IPOB and ESN.

“Eastern Governors have shamefully and belatedly announced the formation of an abstract security outfit called Ebubeagu to secure the zone from Fulani herdsmen they allotted our ancestral lands to.

“What a mockery the puppets have made of themselves in their usual quest to please their slave masters! How can you launch a security outfit without first assembling the personnel and equipping them?

“When Amotekun was formed it was not abstract, the personnel and their equipment were handy. When our leader floated the gallant Eastern Security Network, ESN, were the men not on ground? How then did South East traitors called Governors announce a security outfit without any personnel or were they under any pressure to hurriedly make the announcement after years of foot-dragging and deceit?

“They woke up from their slumber rather too late. We have gone beyond that stage unless they are on a mission to sabotage ESN. Any other security outfit formed in South East will crash because ESN is already on ground and living up to expectations. ESN was floated based on the clamour by our people, and they have since thrown their support behind the outfit.

“Forming another regional security outfit is suspicious, and a needless waste. The governors failed our people when they needed their protection. It’s already late. Biafrans will not be deceived by this purported EBUBEAGU security outfit which is a huge joke,” the statement added.

Female soldier, others abducted

In a related development, gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted three persons including a female soldier. 

 It was learnt that the gunmen abducted the three persons said to be all women at  Onipe village, along the Ijebu-Ode/ Ibadan Road in Oluyole local government area of Ibadan, Oyo state capital  Monday.

 The gunmen were said to have suddenly emerged from a nearby bush and started shooting sporadically on the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road and threw motorists and commuters into momentary confusion.

 During the operation said to be around 8.30am, the gunmen reportedly whisked away their captives identified as Mrs Okeowo, Mrs Abosede Adebayo and Mrs Bola Ogunrinde.

 According to the source, Mrs Ogunrinde said to be a soldier was kidnapped in her   Toyota RAV- 4, with registration number AGL while the details of the number could not be ascertained as at the time of this report.

 The source stressed that the incident was later reported at the Idi Ayunre Division at about 10a.m.

 Contacted, Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP  Adewale Osifeso confirmed the abduction, saying local vigilante members and men of the state police command, in conjunction with hunters, were  currently on the trail of the kidnappers in order to rescue the victims.

“As we speak, combined teams of AKS, Idi Ayunre Division, other tactical teams, as well as local hunters and vigilante groups are actively on the trail of the gunmen, in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the suspects,” he said.

Abduction foiled at varsity

However, some security officers Monday night foiled an attempt to kidnap four students of Plateau State University (PLASU) in their off-campus residence in Ndar, Bokkos.

Responding to a distress call, officers of Operation Safe Haven, Operation Rainbow, the police, University Security and Community Watch Group went after the kidnappers who had abducted the four students.

The criminals abandoned the students while under chase by the officers, leading to the safe rescue of the students.

Speaking on the incident, Governor Simon Lalong commended the security personnel for their swift response to the distress call and the rescue of the students.

He said the officers rose up to the occasion and were proactive.

The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Makut Macham, directed the immediate establishment of a police post in Bokkos, the host community of the university, in order to forestall a reoccurrence.

He also directed that security be tightened in schools across the state for the safety and security of students.

The governor had last year directed the management of PLASU to improve security of the institution.

The directive led to the installation of CCTV surveillance and early warning systems all over the campus as well as the preparation for fencing of the entire campus.

The governor again appealed to the citizens to assist security agencies with relevant intelligence that would lead to not only the arrest of the fleeing kidnappers, but of all criminal elements trying to disrupt the peace of the state.

 Abuja kidnap

 Similarly, there was pandemonium Tuesday at Tungan-Maje community of Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where two persons were abducted.

An eyewitness account said a police officer was shot while attempting to foil the abduction.

A resident, Ibrahim Saidu, said the gunmen in their numbers went on rampage as they engaged the police and some members of the vigilante in a shootout.

Saidu said the gunmen, who first attacked residents of Anguwar Samu in Tungan-Maje, whisked away two persons after an exchange of gunfire that lasted over an hour.

And upon overpowering the police, he said the kidnappers proceeded to the new poultry area of the council where they also abducted two residents.

The source said the police officer and a vigilante member, who sustained injuries in the incident, have been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.

All efforts to speak to the FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer ASP Maryam Yusuf proved abortive.

 Adeboye assures of victory

And amidst the challenges, General Overseer Redeemed Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has assured victory is around the corner in the nation’s battle against insecurity.

Adeboye, who stated this Tuesday when he paid a courtesy call on Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai, assured prayers were ongoing for the nation’s deliverance.

The cleric, who said he had known the governor for many years, described El- Rufai as a tender-hearted man whose other side many would  get to see later.

 “We know that you have a problem that only God can solve. The problem is far beyond the abilities of any human being. We have known each other for years. I know the kind of person you are. I know you are tender-hearted.

“I know how you definitely must be feeling, particularly when the kidnappings are going on. When they begin to kidnap school children, I know how you must be feeling,” Adeboye said.

He however assured “victory is around the corner. We are praying for you and I believe God is going to answer the prayers. I am assuring you sir that the Almighty God is going to fight for you. He is going to fight for Kaduna state, He is going to fight for Nigeria.

“When God begins to do what He alone can do, then the world will see it and they will glorify the name of God, and many people who might be criticizing you now, will probably see the other side of the story.”

In his response, Governor El-Rufai commiserated with the Redeem Family over the recent abduction of some pastors and parishioners in Kaduna state, adding that “we also seek your blessings and prayers, as a great man of God, to assist us with the challenges that we are facing here and the country at large.

“This country needs divine intervention more than at any time in its history. So, we are grateful for your prayers, we are grateful for your blessings, and we will continue to ask for more,” he added.

El-Rufai further said the Redeem Church “has been a pillar of strength; a symbol of Nigeria’s unity and positive force for peace and progress in the state. And we are very grateful for the contributions that they have made.

 “The governor urged Pastor Adeboye to continue to encourage the church to expand throughout Kaduna state because “our state needs your prayers, our state needs your blessings.”

About Bayo Agboola, Ibadan, AbdulRaheem Aodu, Kaduna and Okechukwu Onuegbu, Awka

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