Umahi disbands Ebonyi's security outfit

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state said he would dissolve the state-owned ‘Neigbourhood Security Watch’ with effect from June 1.

He said the staff have been ineffective.

Umahi, who spoked at a press conference today, said a new outfit would emerge from its ashes.

“Chairmen of various LGAs should strive to pay the members’ May salaries and we have authorised traditional rulers and other stakeholders to recommend 100 persons from various communities to be recruited in the new outfit.

“Their salaries will be N30,000 monthly and they will secure the 50 boundaries of the state alongside the various security outfits.

“We would no longer pay the allowances of security officers at the boundaries through their various heads, but through the monitoring team to be inaugurated by the deputy governor,” he said.

The governor said that all political office holders in the state would be members of the monitoring team including members of the state House of Assembly as would be approved by its Speaker.

“It is disheartening to see the deputy governor running through the bushes to intercept returnees.

“If by May 27, security at the borders does not improve, all political offices at the various LGAs will be dissolved.

“We thank the various LGA chairmen whose tenure expires on May 28 for their services and we will be relying on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the guiding template in conducting our council elections,” he said.