Umahi made this known while receiving the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of South East zone, Joseph Egbunike, who paid him an official visit at the old Government House, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
Umahi called on security operatives in the state to protect themselves from attacks of armed men who attack them.
“I charge security agents to engage anyone who attacks them as it is stupid for you to be holding a gun and someone will kill and snatch your gun.”
The Ebonyi Governor said if any youth attacks a security agent who has a gun, such security agent should shoot to defend himself if he can.
“Somebody started playing with the emotions of our people. I feel so ashamed to see that it is only in the southeast region that they are burning down police stations, we are not at war unlike in the north east where we have full scale war. We feel so sad about it.
“We had our stakeholders meetings for all the clans and we have tried to educate them. But unfortunately our youths are being brainwashed.
“The security agents are human beings like others in the society and are also peoples’ fathers and mothers.
“Their lives are not cheaper than our own and you should not allow your personnel posted to the state to leave because we need them and will accommodate them.”
The DIG commended the governor for the audience given to him and his team and relayed the appreciation of the Inspector General of Police over his support to the force.
“The late Igbo leader, late Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu executed the Nigerian/ Biafra civil war and told the people not to fight again.
The DIG further stated that the solution to agitations of marginalization and injustice are dialogue and diplomacy.
“These challenging days would soon be over and we need the collaboration of all, especially in re-orientating our children to have a rethink in their activities,” he stated.
