Members of the South East Governors’ Forum met on Monday as part of efforts to tackle the rising security challenges in the region.
This follows the incessant attacks that have claimed lives and left several injured in various states in the region, with police stations and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) being the targets in most cases.
At the virtual meeting of the governors, the leaders discussed ways to tackle the security threats in the region and secure the lives of the people.
They vowed to leave no stone unturned in tracking and bringing to justice all those involved in what they described as the armed banditry currently ravaging the South East.
The governors also sympathised with the families of all those who have lost their lives during the moment of violent hostilities in the region.
They, however, appealed to the people to exercise restraint and allow the security agencies to continue with their investigations.
At the meeting, the governors condemned the killing of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Gulak, by gunmen on Sunday while on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
They resolved to stand with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodima, and the security agencies in their efforts to unravel the masterminds of the killing.
The leaders also commiserated with the immediate family of Gulak, as well as the government and people of Adamawa State over the unfortunate incident.
They noted that the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators would further strengthen the bonds of unity and trust between the people of the South East and their northern counterparts.
The governors thanked their colleagues in the North for their understanding in the face of the killing and give an assurance that the masterminds would be made to face justice.
