The warning was given in response to a rumored threat made by Autopilot militia group leader Simon Ekpa, who called for a one-week sit-at-home.
After convening at the Government House in Enugu on Monday, the heads of the state’s security agencies formed the Enugu State Security Council. The council issued a strong warning to anyone attempting to impose any kind of sit-at-home policy in the state, telling them to stop or face their waterloo.
Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu State, chaired the Security Council meeting, which declared that sit-at-home policies continued to be an anomaly throughout the entire state and that nobody had the authority to prevent another person from going about their legal business.
The warning was given in response to a rumored threat made by Autopilot militia group leader Simon Ekpa, who called for a one-week sit-at-home.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said, “We are just coming out of the Security Council meeting with His Excellency the Governor and with all the security chiefs in attendance. We took some strategic and critical decisions to ensure that security architecture in the state is further strengthened. We have to give the good people of Enugu State security guarantee.
“We also resolved that sit-at-home remains an aberration in Enugu State. People should go about their lawful businesses. Any activities or actions by any person or persons that are inimical to the peace of the state, we assure you, they will be ruthlessly dealt with. Any person that disturbs their peace and business, oh my God, sorry is his name.
“The morale of all the security forces is very high. There is confidence building. Our men are ready to crush any criminal that dares the peace of the state. We are further positioning the security forces in every corner of Enugu State. We will appear to the criminal elements like a ghost and deal with them like a ghost.
“I can assure you that His Excellency has motivated us. We have built the confidence of our men. We have drawn our operational order in line with security needs. We are not relenting on our efforts. People should go about their lawful businesses,” he said.
Recall that the governor of Enugu State, who banned all forms of sit-at-home on assumption of office in 2023, had, while receiving members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence at the weekend, urged the people of the region, especially the people of Enugu State to disregard every form of threats or orders by the Finland-based Ekpa.
He described the leader of the Autopilot militia group as a businessman, scammer, and common criminal, who had no interest of Ndigbo at heart, but rather fed on their emotions and sufferings by creating a siege atmosphere.
Mbah had charged the people to go about their lawful businesses, as the state, under him, had demonstrated the capacity to protect lives and property.
He had also charged the security forces to deal with any criminal that tests his administration’s resolve to ensure security and order in the state.