*** urges police, and others to take the challenge

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Thursday, again threw its weight behind Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on his vow to end the regular sit-at-home being ordered by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

They noted that there was tension in Enugu on Wednesday following reports that gunmen were moving from one area to another enforcing the sit-at-home.

A statement by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, urged the security agencies to redouble their efforts in winning the confidence of the residents.

Okwu said that the Governor had worked his talks by providing more logistics to the police, and noted that the security agencies owed a duty to ensure that hoodlums did not gain the upper hand in the State.

He said: “We want to commend the Governor of Enugu State for his steadfastness towards ending the perennial sit-at-home which has done more harm than good.

“We, the Ohanaeze youths have been at the forefront demanding for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, but we have always said that sit-at-home will not bring Kanu out.

“Governor Peter Mbah showed leadership by meeting with President Tinubu over Kanu’s incarceration and we are sure the Tinubu government will give the request a positive consideration once his cabinet is formed.

“The Governor has also provided more operational vehicles for the police to aid their rapid response. Ohanaeze youths applaud the governor for being firm and unshaken in his ban on sit-at-home.”

Okwu expressed worry that security agencies were not living up to expectations, and added that,
“However, we are calling on the police and other security agencies to rise up to the challenge. If they were proactive, the confusion witnessed on Wednesday would not happen.

“But the security agencies were nowhere to be found at the strategic locations until news of reported attacks spread across the State. This should not be. Considering the high concentration of various security wings within the Enugu metropolis, their presence should have been felt in most of the strategic locations early in the morning.

“We, therefore, call on them to join hands with the Governor in his vow to secure the people of Enugu State. There is no doubt that Governor Peter Mbah is prepared, in a hurry to develop Enugu State, he should be given all the support.”