The governor of Ebonyi state, Engr. David Umahi, has raised alarm that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) threatened to kidnap five governors from Nigeria’s southeast region.
He raised the alarm on Sunday at Nwaegu Military Cantonment in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state during the official flag-off of Operation Egwu Eke III by the Nigerian Army 82 Division.
He said that the fresh threat from IPOB was received via text message sent to his wife.
He also said that his state was not part of the region which formed the sovereign States of Biafra as proclaimed by the IPOB.
Umahi, who is currently the chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, also insisted that some of the agitations of IPOB members were genuine except that their approach towards actualizing their objectives was bad.
“The GOC you are coming at a time we had note from our brothers and sisters of IPOB sending text messages that there will be no elections and insulting the leaders, particularly the south east governors.
“Just few days back, they sent text message to my wife that the 5 governors of south east would be kidnapped and that their security would over power that of the governors and after ransom are paid, they would kill them and kill themselves.
“As a leader in the zone I must say that some of their complaints are genuine but the approach is very bad, that is why the leaders of south east is not in support of their approach.
“And so, we are not against them but their approach. And as the Chief Security Officer of the state, I do not welcome them. Ebonyi state is not part of Biafra, we are a sovereign state. We don’t want to be colonised again; we are a state demanding better treatment in the affairs of our nation,” he said.
Umahi also insisted that he would report some cult groups to Operation Egwu Eke III, owing to the fact that they breached their earlier agreement reached following the recent clashes recorded in the state.
He explained that the report of the cult clashed was made known to him through the state’s Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Services.
Speaking earlier, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major General Abubakar Maikobi said the exercise for the first time would be conducted simultaneously across the nation.
Maikobi further assured residents in Ebonyi state and south east including other states under 82 Division of the readiness of Nigerian Army to be professional in the discharge of their duty during the exercise and thereafter, particularly be neutral in the forthcoming elections.
