Southeast leaders on Monday vowed to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as soon as possible over the worsening security situation in the region.
They met for four hours in Abuja on Monday to strategise on how to halt the devastation of the region.
The zone has for years been reeling under a regular Monday sit-at-home enforced by criminals who attack markets, destroy properties and kill those who they accuse of violating the directive.
Last week, goods and properties were destroyed by enforcers of a week-long sit-at-home declared factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Simon Ekpa.
While IPOB said it had called off the exercise first announced to protest the detention of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, residents have been forced to stay at home for fear of being attacked.
Governors appear to be at their wits’ end on how to address the problem, which has been primarily attributed to security failure.
Political leaders comprising governors, National Assembly members and Ohaneze Ndigbo executives, met at the Imo State Governors Lodge in Abuja to find a way out.
The meeting, which had two governors in attendance – Hope Uzodinma (Imo) and Francis Nwuifuru (Ebonyi) – lasted for about four hours.
It was presided over by President General Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
Uzodinma told reporters that the delegation would discuss with President Tinubu to intervene.
He said insecurity remained the greatest challenge facing the region.
Uzodimma said: “We have identified insecurity as the problem of Southeast for now and it is at the front burner and must be addressed.
“The Federal Government in the past has supported us but we think it can do more.
“We resolved to make a representation to the President for his intervention to be able to bring insecurity in the region to an end.
“Any moment from now, we will be putting together an arrangement to visit the President and discuss with him.
“There are certain things we cannot do very well without the Federal Government. Security is in the Exclusive List and only the Federal Government can deploy as appropriate.”
Chief Iwuanyanwu said the five Southeast governors are working with lawmakers from the zone to find lasting solutions to the challenges.
He added that all leaders across party lines have decided to work together for the good of the region.
The Ohanaeze leader said: “The problem of insecurity cannot be solved by the Southeast governors alone.
“We have resolved that the leadership of Ohanaeze, the governors and lawmakers get in touch with the President.
“The problem in Southeast is too much; too big for the governors alone.
“It is a Nigerian problem and the President will give support to the governors.
