An Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Igbo National Congress (INC) has launched a regional security network to stop the killing of innocent local farmers by marauding herdsmen in the South-East geopolitical zone.
INC National President, Godsent Chilos unveiled the security network in a press conference on Monday.
He said the security network codenamed “Operation Lion Walk” would protect the region’s forests and farmlands against killing and maiming of the local populace by the killer herdsmen.
According to INC’s leadership, the move became necessary as the governors of the South-East have continued to delay in forming a regional vigilant force.
The Herald recalls that INC had earlier ordered those it termed ‘jihadist killer herdsmen’ to evacuate forests and farmlands in Igboland within 21 days or face dire consequences.
“In defiance to this quit notice, the jihadists killer herdsmen have continued to attack communities in Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra and Imo states, respectively. On Friday, 12th June 2020, a group of jihadist killer herdsmen who were still hiding in some forests in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State attacked and brutally killed a man in cold blood at Mbano Autonomous Community in Agwa clan, Oguta LGA Imo State and fled.
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“Cognisance of our rights to self-determination, this 15th day of June 2020, the Igbo National Council (INC) worldwide hereby launches “Operation Lion Walk” throughout the territories of the Igbo nation. This operation is aimed at fishing out and flushing out every criminal element who are criminally hiding in or occupying our farmlands and forests using same as hideouts to commit sacrilege against the Igbo nation.
“On the above, the Igbo National Council (INC), therefore, charge all the town unions, traditional rulers and youth organisations of communities of the Igbo nation that has not constituted their vigilante groups to immediately do so and quickly commence the combing of their community farmlands and forests to fish out and flush out remnant’s of these criminal elements who are still hiding in some of our forests waiting for order to attack and attempt to invade Igbo land,” Chilos said.