Enugu people comfortable with military presence – Ohanaeze counters IPOB

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has faulted claims by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that Governor Peter Mbah is militarising Enugu State.

IPOB made the allegation in a statement issued by its spokesman, Emma Powerful.

Powerful said militarising and humiliating the people of Enugu State in the guise of ending the sit-at-home order was a wrong approach and unacceptable.

However, the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike told journalists on Friday that there has been no reported case of intimidation or humiliation of Enugu residents by the security agencies deployed to checkmate the activities of hoodlums.

Okwu, who said Governor Mbah should be commended rather than vilified, noted that the presence of security agencies at strategic locations in the State had built the confidence of residents.

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According to him, a few weeks back, criminals were on a rampage in Enugu, attacking and robbing residents unchallenged. Kidnappers were also on the prowl, instilling fear in the minds of residents.

“But the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah rose to the occasion and this resulted in the huge deployment of security agencies, including the police and the military.

“Every Enugu resident can attest to the fact that normalcy has returned to the State, with criminals now having it rough. It is therefore, totally unjustifiable to now turn and accuse the Governor of militarising the State.

“May we ask: should Enugu continue to be left at the mercy of non-state actors? If the security agencies are after sit-at-home enforcers, why should be a worry to the IPOB, having disowned the sit-at-home order?”

Okwu declared that Enugu people were happy with the Governor for restoring their confidence, which he said “is responsible for the failure of the two weeks sit-at-home declared by Simon Ekpa.

“Enugu people are comfortable with the presence of security agencies; those not comfortable with it might have something up their sleeves.”