S’East Govs Demand Relocation Of Boko Haram Suspects to Abuja

…Want FG To Compensate Igbo Boko Haram Victims

L-R: Govs Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okorocha (Imo), Ikpeazu (Abia) & Umahi (Ebonyi)

South-East Governors under the aegis of the South-East Governors’ Forum yesterday charged the presidency to relocate the 43 Boko Haram suspects in Anambra state to Abuja where there is adequate security to contain such high profile criminals, according to a report by The Union Newspaper.

In a joint news briefing by the South-East Governors in Owerri after their meeting, the host, Governor Rochas Okorocha who spoke on behalf of the forum called on the presidency to take a second look at the relocation of the 43 Boko Haram suspects to Ekwulobia Prison, Anambra state, saying the development had only created fear and anxiety in the region.

Okorocha said, “This reminds me of our experience during the Ebola crisis, no local government agreed to our siting an Ebola centre in their domain so we brought the Ebola centre to the Government House where we can directly supervise it. In the same way, if there is any better

place to keep the Boko Haram suspects, it is Abuja where there is maximum security facilities to contain them and protect the people.

“South East is part of Nigeria and the people of the zone also share in the pains of our brothers and sisters in the north East who have been under severe attack from the Boko Haram insurgents. But we are appealing to the federal government to reconsider its decision of detaining some of the suspects, as their presence is already generating tension. ”

We sincerely believe that the best place to detain the suspects should be in Abuja which is more secured than in the south east and their relocation will definitely calm down the rising tension in the zone”.

The governors also urged the Federal Government to consider the plight of displaced South-Easterners due to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

They urged the Federal Government to compensate those who lost their loved ones businesses and sources of livelihood in the North.

The Forum announced their resolve to establish ‘the SouthEast economic hub’, which would promote trade and industry in the region. The Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu was nominated to head the committee on the establishment of the Economic Hub.

Only the Anambra state governor was absent from the meeting and did not send any representation as was the case of the Ebonyi state governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kelechi Eric Igwe.