The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide has called on south-east governors to establish a joint security outfit to address insecurity issues in the region.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group’s president, and Okwu Nnabuike, its secretary general, made the request in a statement.

On January 9, south-west governors will launch “Amotekun”, a regional security outfit.

Ohanaeze youth asked the governors of Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra to emulate their counterparts in the south-west.

“OYC call on the South East governors to establish a joint security outfit that will uniformly curb crimes and insecurity challenges emanating from suspected herdsmen,” the statement read.

“We want the South East governors forum to replicate in the South East, the new security outfit recently announced by Southwest governors “Amotekun” which will commence work on January 9th 2020. All over the world, security of lives and property remains the top priority of every government.

“OYC is ready to assist the South East Governors to draw up a master strategic plan, design to provide palliative measures and prevent crime through partnerships with security agents and ensure that crime and insecurity challenges are reduced to minimal level, for increased dividends of democracy, foreign investments, makes Southeast safe for businesses to thrive, and exploit her potential and become the fastest growing economies in West Africa. This security outfit will also create employment for Igbo youths.”

The group also said Igbo across the country will experience more hardship in year 2020.

It said the current year will be tougher in the areas of security, economic policies, social security/welfare and infrastructural facilities, which “are in ruins across the zone for decades now”.

“Igbos should be their brothers keeper in the face of any adversity and provocative threats in other to avoid being sacrificial Lamb and major casualties in the hardship that awaits Nigerians in 2020…hunger and tough year awaits all,” the statement read.

OYC commended the south-east governors forum for its collaboration with the federal government in delivering projects under the overall leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It said the synergy has yielded positive result and increased dividends of democracy for the south-east region.

The group also called for the extension of ongoing railway projects to the south-east region.

It demanded for new train coaches and new railway lines connecting Onitsha-Owerri-Aba to boost economic activities.

OYC commended Buhari for completion of some projects in the area, but added that the president should revamp the Enugu coal mine as promised.