PDP demands disbandment of Ebubeagu in Ebonyi within 14 days over rights abuses
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi has demanded immediate disbandment of the State Chapter of Ebubeagu South-East security outfit within 14 days, accusing them of killing, extortion, destroying property, and inflicting untold injuries on the bodies and psychology of Ebonyi people and residents.
Briefing Journalists at the weekend after the Party’s State Executive Committee meeting held in Abakaliki, the State Chairman of the Party, Mr Tochukwu Okorie, said the party condemned in strongest of terms the alleged continued attacks on lives and property of Ebonyi people and residents by then Ebubeagu security agents.
The party alleged that the Ebubeagu security outfit had become political thugs, who drew inspiration from Ebonyi State Government to carry out their dastardly acts.
“We are disenchanted as a political party with the way things have gone so far in the State under the leadership of the APC led State government. We condemn in strongest of terms the continued attacks on live and property of Ebonyi people and residents by then “Ebubeagu” Security Network officials-a team we have considered to call “political thugs”. It is no more news that they draw inspiration from Ebonyi State Government to carry out their dastardly acts.
“They kill, destroy, extort and inflict untold injuries on the bodies and psychology of Ebonyi People and residents. At this junctuture, we call on the Governor and the Ebonyi Police Commissioner to disband this band of terrorists since the aim of establishing it by the South-East Governors Forum has been defeated—reason it is why it is only in Ebonyi State that it exists. We are giving Ebonyi State government 14 day’s ultimatum to disband Ebubeagu or we deploy everything constitutional within our strength to resist their existence.
“We sympathize with the victims of the villainy of this murderous gang and wish those undergoing treatment of any kind from the injuries sustained there from quick recovery,” the party said.
On the kidnap of 5 NELAN consultants working for African Development Bank on the Abakaliki ring road project at the war torn Effium axis in Ohaukwu LGA, the party called on all parties concerned to put efforts together to ensure they were released unhurt if they were still alive.
“We urge the Ebonyi State government and security agents to unravel the cause and whereabouts of the 5 NELAN consultants working for African Development Bank on the Abakaliki ring road project who were reported to have disappeared from the war-torn Effium community of Ohaukwu LGA while supervising works on the ring road project. We urge the concerned parties to put efforts together and ensure they are released unhurt if they are still alive.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the NELAN firm and AFDB over the emotional distress this disappearance may have cost them since November, 2021, it happened.”
The party equally said: “We have noted with dismay the suffering Ebonyi Civil Servants are subjected to by Ebonyi State government. We charge the government to look deep into the welfare of our civil servants as they are almost the most suffering in the comity of states in Nigeria today?
“The government should also as a matter of urgency implement its resolve to recruit Ebonyians into civil service system of the State and warn that it shouldn’t go the way of other policies and programmes of the government.”
