The tension in Ebonyi State following the defection of its governor, Mr. Dave Umahi from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been heightened by the allegation that he is now using Ebubeagu security outfit to terrorise members of his former political party.
National publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, who made the allegation in a statement called for the release of the state publicity secretary of the party, Mr. Nwoba Chika Nwoba.
Recall that Nwoba was arrested by Ebubeagu and handed over to the police for spreading fake news on social media, a crime punishable under the controversial cybercrimes law.
He was subsequently charged with flouting the cybercrimes law of the state and remanded in police custody by the court.
Ologunagba accused the state government of unleashing terror on innocent Nigerians, particularly opposition PDP members and other dissenting voices in Ebonyi.
He said the party was alarmed by reports that the state government was using a heavily armed killer squad, currently disguising ‘Ebubeagu’ security outfit, as a political weapon to arrest, attack and inflict grievous bodily harm on Nigerians and particularly PDP members in Ebonyi.
He also accused the state government of instigating the illegal arrest of Nwoba and keeping him in detention without justification on the strength of a draconian law that did not pass through the established due process of lawmaking.
“Just recently, a prominent member of the PDP and former member the house of representatives, Linus Okorie was declared wanted by Governor Umahi without any accusation or charges levelled against him.
“Our party vehemently rejects such violation of fundamental human rights going on in Ebonyi State and calls on Nigerians to hold the APC responsible for acts of violence and terrorism in Ebony State.
“The PDP also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of our state publicity secretary in Ebonyi State as well as other innocent Nigerians reportedly detained in various facilities in the State.
“As a party, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari, the national security adviser and the police high command to immediately step into the situation which is a serious threat to the security of Ebonyi State in particular and that of the nation in general.
“This is because any breakdown of law and order in Ebonyi State will have a ripple effect on the fragile security situation in the entire South East region of the country and beyond.”
The party vowed that no amount of intimidation, harassment, threats and attacks will bend the will of the people in their resolve to vote out the APC in 2023.
Reacting, the governor in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Francis Nwaze said he had no hands in Nwoba’s predicament.
‘The said Nwoba Chika to the best of our knowledge is in the web of the police and court for defaulting a valid law.
“We are constrained to make further comments on the case of Nwoba Chika hence his case is now pending in a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The embattled Nwoba and his political party have the leeway to prove themselves innocent through the court process instead of tempting the state government to meddle in contempt of the Court,” Nwaze said.
Similarly, the APC state chairman in the State, Mr. Stanley Emegha, denied that Ebubeagu is a toll for political witch-hunt.
He said what is in place as Ebubeagu had been in existence before the Umahi administration as Neighbourhood Watch.
Emegha urged the PDP to be more constructive in its criticisms of the state, noting that Umahi places high premium on security because he understands that it drives the development and sustainable growth of any economy.
