The current wave of insecurity in the south east has attracted the attention of south east youth leaders who today embarked on protest against the Ebubeagu security outfit in Aba, Abia State.
Under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the youths said the Ebubeagu outfit is a militia set up by some hovernors to annihilate Igbo youths.
“It is used by some South East Governors to kill our youths in their prime while leaving the real Fulani terrorists and Jihadists to be moving freely in our forests and bushes kidnapping our people, raping our women and killing our people at will”.
The protest which started from faulks Road Aba and moved to Okigwe road, Azikiwe road, Asa road and ended at Aba – Owerri road in Aba , Abia State, saw the youths vowing “In Imo state, the protest will not stop until the Governor Hope Uzodinma resigns as governor of the state”.
Recall that last Saturday, kidnappers went beserk on the Leru-Ihube-Okigwe road, where commuters were stranded and unlucky ones were abducted.
Sources said the police were helpless, while the soldiers were alerted for rescue, and they responded.
According to a source, “Though their presence and the rains did ameliorate the incident to an extent. But the retreated Bandits re-grouped, returned later, burnt the military vehicle on the road,
“The killing orgy escalated leaving many casualties, some reportedly died in the incident and scores abducted.
“That Cashew area on that road is dangerous now. More prayers and a lot of caution for the road users”.
The source advised, “If you are to use that road, wind down your car glasses, off your radio, your A/c, reduce speed. If the road has sparse number of vehicles, apply wisdom, watch out for those revenue men on the road.
“If they are not on that road and on their usual spots, stop your movement until you are sure.
“Those criminals dislodged from the cattle market at Lokpanta are dangerous”.
Speaking, Goodluck Ibem, the President General of COSEYL said, “The Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway mainly the boundary between Abia and Imo state have been taken over by Fulani terrorists and kidnappers who kidnap our people on daily basis and nothing serious have been done to arrest these criminals committing such atrocities on Igbo soil.
“Ebubeagu killed 21 innocent youths returning from a traditional marriage in Awo Ommamma village in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State accusing them of being bandits whereas the real criminals who are the Fulani Jihadists and terrorists are left unchecked in the zone.
“It is now a crime to be a youth in Imo State as our youths are now killed at random”.
Some protested placards read “We Don’t Want Ebubeagu In South East”, ” It Is Now A Crime Be A Youth In Imo State” , “Hope Uzodinma Should Resign Immediately For Killing 21 Igbo Youths With Ebubeagu”, “Ebubeagu Must Go” , “Ebubeagu Is A Curse “, ” Hope Uzodinma Must Resign”, and among other inscriptions to demand Ebubeagu is not needed in Igboland.
COSEYL said, they are taking the protest to Imo State after Aba “because Governor Hope Uzodinma have committed so much crime against humanity with Ebubeagu security outfit. Over 25,000 innocent youths have been secretly killed by Ebubeagu security outfit and other security operatives under his watch. After Imo state we will proceed to Enugu and Ebonyi States respectively.
“Some of the Igbo youths were Killed for gallantry on Igbo soil and said enough is enough!.
“We are not stopping the protest until our demands are met . Forward ever and backward never”.
