Operations of Ebubeagu Security Network in Ebonyi State have
been declared illegal by a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki.
Justice Akintayo Aluko gave the
ruling Tuesday in a suit filed by Mr Abia Onyeike, the director of media and
publicity in the Ebonyi PDP Governorship Campaign Organisation. The suit sought
the intervention of the court in his abduction and torture by the security
outfit in November, 2022. The court also awarded N50m damages in favour of
Onyeike.
The court ruled that the
Ebonyi State House of Assembly lacked the power to create the outfit. The judge
further ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police
to acquire the guns and logistics used by the group as tools of oppression.
The security network was
created in Ebonyi State in April 2021 aimed at ensuring peace in the state, in
collaboration with conventional security organisations. The outfit is an
initiative of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Gov Dave
Umahi. The outfit is only operational in Ebonyi and Imo states until the
ruling.
Its operations in Ebonyi
have however come under heavy criticism, especially from the opposition
political parties claiming that the All Progressives Congress in the state are
using the outfit to intimidate them.
The Ohanaeze Youth
Council (OYC) earlier called on the federal government to abolish the outfit in
Ebonyi State.
Its national president, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, claimed that Governor
Dave Umahi was using the security network to commit human rights violations.
According to him, “If
nothing is done to disband the security outfit, the state would experience
inexplicable bloodbath that would be perpetrated by the happy-trigger group.
“Ebubeagu is now a
terror to villagers and a tool of harassment, torture and intimidation against
any perceived political enemy of Governor Umahi. The activities of Ebubeagu are
becoming worrisome and unbearable.
“The National Security
Adviser, National Director of State Security Service, Inspector General of
Police must as a matter of urgency understand that Ebubeagu in Ebonyi State is
a time bomb waiting to blow.
“It is, therefore, very
necessary at this time to banish Ebubeagu in Ebonyi before 2023 general
elections, otherwise heads will roll.”
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