The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Abubakar Adamu on Wednesday urged the Igbo leaders to caution the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN) on their activities in the Southeast region.
The IGP who stated this during the Anambra State Security Summit at the Women’s Development Center in Akwa said freedom will not be achieved through violent means, adding that the emerging trend of killing policemen and burning stations will no longer be tolerated.
Responding to his statement, the Anambra State traditional rulers, led by Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe told the IGP that they would not be talking about IPOB and ESN when the herders were allowed to carry AK-47 without checkmating them.
All the monarchs including Igwe Godwin Ezeilo of Nanka in Orumba North local government area and Igwe Christopher Okpala Akwaeze Anaocha local government area said herdsmen had taken over their land and were security risks to their subjects including the women.
Correspondingly, the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, while addressing the security agencies, the monarchs, Town Union presidents, Ohanaeze leaderships and youth also said itinerant herdsmen would no longer be allowed into any community in the State.
Obiano said anything about security was number one for his administration, adding that without security, “you are dead on arrival”
However, he commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Security operatives, the youths and monarchs for the collective efforts in making sure Anambra remained the safest state in the country.
He said, “Communal clashes are as dangerous as herdsmen. We are going to organize a census for the herdsmen who operate in our state to know how many they are and they will be meeting with the leadership of every community where they operate.
“After the census, we are not going to allow itinerant herdsmen into our state. Any herdsman with a gun is a criminal and we will not allow that.
“They are the people that kill, rape our women in society. We are going to position the military, police in Omor, Ayamelum, Orumba areas and other Communities where they cause havoc in the state to curtail their excesses,” Obiano said.
But the IGP, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of finance and administration, Joseph Egbunike commended Obiano for his support to security agencies in Anambra, said certain things should not be allowed to happen in Anambra.
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