The newly sworn-in governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, on Thursday, extended an olive branch to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its militia arm, the eastern security Network, ESN.
Soludo urged IPOB and ESN to work with his administration in tackling insecurity in the state.
He spoke while delivering his inaugural speech in Awka, the state capital.
Soludo questioned the motives of secessionist agitations, wondering if it was time to interrogate the purpose of IPOB and ESN.
According to Soludo: “It is time to interrogate the purpose of IPOB and ESN. The politicians using it as a means must come out for a consensus regarding our future. The conspiracy of silence by stakeholders must stop.
“I challenge the group denying the killings to come out and work with my administration to ensure peace and security in the state.”
IPOB and ESN have been linked to several killings across the Southeast.
Absolving its members of any wrongdoing, the group insisted that some politicians and governors use criminals to cause harm in the region.
