By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has suspended the activities of the Ebubeagu security outfit due to a recent high court judgment and inaugurated two new vigilante outfits called Ebonyi State Neighbourhood Security Watch and Ebonyi State Vigilante Corps respectively.
Governor David Umahi disclosed this in a broadcast on Friday, stating that activities of the security outfit have been suspended and two new vigilante outfits have been formed to ensure security of lives and property across the state.
“The Ebubeagu security outfit will not function in the state until the stay of execution is granted and appeal entered.
“This is in obedience to the rule of law and whether it is good or bad for our people, it is the court’s judgment”
Governor Umahi noted that the judgement from a court of equal jurisdiction had a month ago, restrained anyone from disbanding the outfit because of its contribution to the security of the state.
“This means that I have two judgements on the same subject as the second one shouldn’t had been due to an earlier decision on it.
“I could had chosen which one to obey if I were not a lover of the judiciary but has chosen to obey the latter.
“When the stay of execution is granted, Ebubeagu will function again.
He appreciated the state House of Assembly for their commitment in passing into law, two sets of vigilante outfits which processes commenced since 2021 in Ebonyi state.
“These outfits include the Ebonyi neighborhood watch patterned after such in Anambra and the Ebonyi vigilante corps patterned after Amotekun, in the South West geo-political zone.
“When Ebubeagu returns, they all should not infringe on the rights of the citizens.
“None of them would be involved in the forthcoming general elections and the public must note this”
The governor urged the people of the state,more especially various political parties to respect the rule of law while carrying out their political activities.
Recall that a Federal High Court, sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Tuesday, disbanded the Ebubeagu Security Outfit, in the state.
The disbandment, it was gathered, was as a result of several alleged human rights abuses, extortions, illegal arrest and use of fire arms by the security outfit.
