“Bandits Attacking South-East Are ‘Our Children’, I Want To Negotiate With Them” – Gov Umahi

The Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi, has described bandits attacking South-East as ‘Our children.’

The Governor has sought to negotiate with the Bandits responsible for the attacks.

Umahi being the chairman of South East Governors forum, made this declaration while presenting the new 40 Toyota Sienna vehicles and 20 pickup trucks to security agencies to enhance their operations in the state, NAN reports.

He said he wants to find out what their grievances are so as to come up with a solution to the current security challenges facing the state.

“I want to talk to the bandits and empower them as we cannot continue to kill ourselves and destroy public infrastructure, he said.

“The bandits are our children and I am pained when they or the security agencies are killed.”

Meanwhile, the Governor described rumours that the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) are responsible for the attacks in the region as false.

He stated this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on some issues discussed at the state’s security council meeting, Daily Trust reports.

Speaking on rumours that members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) or Eastern Security Network (ESN) were after his life, the Ebonyi leader said it was false.

According to him, he has discharged his duties to the people.

For months now, it has been one bandit attack after another across Nigeria. The IPOB and ESN have been blamed for most of the attacks in the southeast.

However the Governor while reacting to the rumours said that ‘the hoodlums responsible for the attacks hide under the umbrella of IPOB.’

He said the hoodlums after causing mayhems go on social media to claim they are members of IPOB or ESN.