Biafra: Ebonyi Govt Speaks On Ganging Up Against IPOB

Ebonyi state government, on Monday, denied setting a vigilante group known as “Bakassi Boys” to destabilise the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB in the state.

There were rumors making the rounds on the social media, spearheaded by a group called The Biafra Restoration Voice, TBRV, who alleged that Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state commissioned the said security group.

The information reads, “Governor David Umahi have just commissioned this group of men called “Bakassi Boys” in Ebonyi; their job and mission is to attack IPOB members and so on”.

The group, TBRV, alleged that the inauguration of the group came after a purported meeting with the state government and former governor of the state in government house.

But while reacting to the alleged statement, Commissioner for Internal Security and Boarder Peace, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha, said the state has no other internal security outfit except the Neighborhood watch. He described the information as strange and urged the people to disregard the information.

His words, “This is a strange story as far as the state is concerned. There is no security outfit that can be established in this state without the knowledge of the state government and as such, there is nothing like Bakassi boys.

“There is nothing like Bakassi or ISAKABA, IPOB, MASSOB or whatever you call them. People may stay in their homes based on their agitations and say they are IPOB or MASSOB or they are this or that, but they are not known in Ebonyi state because, their activities are against the law of the land.

“So, there is nothing like BAKASSI in Ebonyi state and there is no inauguration of such group in the state. There is absolutely nothing like that and we don’t condone it. Who did the selection? Who inaugurated them?

“There were some people that came and said they are National Vigilante and the governor said we don’t want to hear anything like that in the state.

What we have, which is constitutionally approved by our House of Assembly, is the state Neighbourhood Watch and everybody know their activities. It is recognised worldwide and security agencies in the state know their activities and that is the only thing we know in the state and we have as a security outfit. Their conducts have limitations; there are certain extent they don’t go. They give tips to police; their activities do not cross this level and they are purely to checkmate pocket of crimes. The general public should, please, disregard that rumour; it is untrue,” Mr Okoro said.