Umahi replaces Ebubeagu with two new vigilante outfits

EBONYI State Governor David Umahi on Friday suspended the Ebubeagu Southeast Security Outfit and set up two new vigilante outfits to replace it.

The two new outfits are Ebonyi State Neighbourhood Watch and Ebonyi State Vigilante Corps.

This followed the passage of a new law setting up the two outfits by the State House of Assembly and the signing of the same into law by the governor.

The governor said the decision was in obedience to the High Court ruling which ordered the disbandment of Ebubeagu in the State

Umahi stated this during an expanded State Security Council meeting in Abakaliki, the Capital of the state.

“I have directed that Ebubeagu will not function in the State until the stay of Execution is granted and an appeal is entered, this is in obedience to the rule of law and respect for our Judiciary which I have great respect for, whether the judgement is good for our people or bad, it is the judgement of the Court,” Umahi informed the council.

He, however, noted that another court of coordinate jurisdiction had earlier passed a judgement restraining anybody from disbanding Ebubeagu.

“What it means is that I have two judgements on the same subject and I could choose the one to obey if I were not a lover of the Judiciary, however, I have decided to obey the later judgement that says that Ebubeagu should not function, so for now, Ebubeagu should not function while we process the stay of Execution and appeal entered at Enugu,” he said.

Ohanaeze, IPOB commend the court for disbanding Ebubeagu in Ebonyi

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Youth Council, (OYC) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have commended the Federal High Court in Abakaliki for disbanding the Ebubeagu operation in the state.

The security outfit was created through legislation by the Ebonyi House of Assembly, following the April 2021 resolution of the Southeast governors to set up the outfit in the five states of the region to complement the effort of the security agencies in the fight against the upsurge in crimes.

The judge, Riman Fatun, in his ruling on Tuesday, declared Ebubeagu’s activities illegal and ordered the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police to collect all the weapons in possession of the security outfit.

Reacting, the IPOB and OYC in separate statements commended the judge for his verdict, saying that the court’s judgment has revalidated their earlier call for the state Governor Dave Umahi to disband the security outfit which has committed several inhuman violations in the state.

OYC’s National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka described Ebubeagu as a militia group of the executive arm of the Ebonyi state government.

Igboayaka alleged that in two months alone in 2022, the Ebubeagu committed several killings in the state.

Igboayaka said: “around January/February 2022, over 20 youth were killed at Akaeze, and their dead bodies were dumped at Ivo River, in Ivo Local Government.

Also, another youth, identified as Mr Nnaogo Ajali, from Amarameze Umobor Akaeze in Ivo Local Government was killed during the period.

“In another horrific incident, Ebubeagu killed one Comrade Onyekachi Okor (aka Elueke) from Umuoji Umobor Akaeze.

“Over 30 youths from Akaeze who protested the acts and actions of Ebubeagu group were arrested and dumped at Ebonyi State prison on the alleged order of Governor David Umahi.”

Igboayaka revealed further that: “More than 70 Akaeze youths have fled their land due to incessant killings by Ebubeagu

“Earlier, around March 2, 2022, the National Youth President of Akaeze Youth Forum Sunday Ajaero, a vocal youth was kidnapped and up till now he has not been seen.

“Ebubeagu militia squad in Ebonyi State was turned to a terror and a tool of harassment, torture and intimidation against any perceived political enemy. It is, therefore, very necessary at this time to banish Ebubeagu in Ebonyi before the 2023 general election to bring about peace.’

Also, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful condemned “the extrajudicial execution and dumping of the victim’s bodies in open pits by Ebubeagu militias.”

According to him, Ebubeagu militias have committed many atrocities and genocides against Imo and Ebonyi indigenes and all Biafrans in general.