A federal high court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, has declared the activities of the security outfit, Ebube Agu, illegal in the state.

Five governors of the Southeast region back in 2021 had launched the group to fight recurring acts of violence and terrorism in the zone.

The court in its ruling on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and police to recover all arms and ammunition in the possession of the vigilante operatives in the state.

The presiding judge, Riman Fatun, disclosed that the group had to be disbanded due to human rights abuses, extortion, and illegal arrests as well as indiscriminate use of firearms.

“I hereby declare the Ebube Agu outfit illegal and therefore, it ceases to exist as the Ebonyi state house of assembly has no powers to approve their existence,” the judge held.” justice Fatun said in his ruling.