Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has called for a halt to the implementation of operation ‘Puff Adder’ security exercise in the state.
Umahi made the appeal to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu through the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of zone 6, Musa Kimo, who paid him a courtesy call on Tuesday.
According to governor, there was no more need for the operation at the present time as peace had been restored to the warring communities in Ikwo and Abakaliki Local Government Area, LGA.
He promised that the government would inform the police authorities if and when the exercise was needed in the state and appealed for a week’s grace to access that.
He however expressed appreciation to the IG for the quick response to the problem and appealed to police authorities to prevail on the Cross River Governor to suspend the political office holders from their own side of the conflict as he had done.
“I asked both communities to give me a summation on how permanent peace will be restored and I can guarantee that there would be permanent peace in the communities.
“I urged leaders of both communities to call their warring youths to order and when this is not done, we would collectively execute the operation.
“We will shock the places by using police, army and other security apparatus to ensure the safety of defenceless young people and women in the communities.
“They have done what I asked them to do and the state commissioner of police can testify that there has been no single gunshot in those communities since.
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“However, I thank the I-G for his quick response to the issue as the leaders have the capacity to tame the excesses of their armed youths though they are protecting the communities from external aggression.
“Help us tell the Cross River Governor to suspend the political office holders from their own side of the conflict as I have done, to make them work assiduously towards lasting peace,” Gov. Umahi said.
Responding, the AIG promised to relay the governor’s message to the IG. He also thanked the governor for the warm reception accorded and pledged to ensure absolute peace in all communities of Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom and Cross River; states under his watch.
He also disclosed that some arrests have been made by the police in connection to the burning of five members of a family in the crisis between Enyibichiri community of Ikwo and Enyigba community of Abakaliki LGA and the killing of a Fulani indigene in Izzi LGA.
“I have heard from the governor and will relay the message to the I-G as the governor is the chief security officer of the state.
“I appreciate and commend him for his stern position towards security issues as he has always and is still working with us to ensure security.
“We would, however, continue doing our best in a professional manner and our intention is to use the Puff Adder operation to declare criminals – persona non grata in the state,” Kimo said.
Meanwhile, leaders of the warring communities signed a peace accord before the governor as the government revoked the disputed land and shared it among them.
