Ebonyi state government has urged members of the public to disregard the rumour making the rounds that there was inauguration of Bakassi Boys security outfit in the state recently.
The Biafra Restoration Voice (TBRV), had reported that the said Bakassi Boys security outfit was allegedly inaugurated by Ebonyi state government to attack members of Indigenous People Of Biafara, because of their opposition to Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) in the state and South-east in general.
But the commissioner for Internal Security and Border Peace, Hon. Stanley Emegha, in Abakaliki, on Monday told newsmen that the information was false insisting there was no newly inaugurated security outfit apart from the already existing one which is the Neighborhood Watch.
He said the alleged rumour sounds very strange, especially as there are no IPOB members in Ebonyi, talk more of confronting them using a security outfit.
“This is a strange story, as a far as the state is concerned there is no security outfit that can be established in this state without the knowledge of the state government and as such there is nothing like Bakassi Boys.
“There is nothing like Bakassi or ISAKABA, IPOB, MASSOB or whatever you call them. People may stay in their homes based on their agitations and say they are IPOB or MASSOB or they are this or that but they are not known in Ebonyi State because their activities are against the law of the land.
“So, there is nothing like BAKASSI in Ebonyi state and there is no inauguration of such group in the state. There is absolutely nothing like that and we don’t condone it. Who did the selection? Who inaugurated them?
“There were some people that came and said they are National Vigilante and the Governor said we don’t want to hear anything like that here in the state.
“What we have which is constitutionally approved by our House of Assembly is the state Neighbourhood Watch and everybody know their activities. It is recognized worldwide and security agencies in the state know their activities and that is the only thing we know in the state and we have as a security outfit.
“Their conduct have limitations, there are certain extents they don’t go. They give tips to police, their activities do not cross this level and they are purely to checkmate pocket of crimes, trying to protect our barricades to make sure that if you snatch a car you can’t escape and that’s all.
“Any other thing called BAKASSI, we are not part of it and the state is not part of it. the general public should please disregard that rumour, it is untrue,” he maintained.
