Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and the governorship candidate of the Labour Party for the November 11 governorship election in the state, Athan Achonu, have condemned the Tuesday killing of security operatives in the state.
In separate statements, Uzodimma and Achonu described the killing as reprehensible.
In a statement issued by Uzodimma’s spokesperson, Oguwike Nwachuku, the governor assured that the suspects would be caught.
The statement read, “Governor Hope Uzodimma has assured the public that those behind the Tuesday killing of security operatives at Ehime Mbano area of Imo State will be fished out and made to face the law.
“Some members of the Joint Security Task Force whose actual number and identities are yet to be established were killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen while on duty at the Umuezeala Owerre area of Ehime Mbano.
“When Governor Uzodimma visited the scene of the ugly incident accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police and the Director, Department of State Services, he expressed sadness over the lives lost.
“He assured that the state government, in collaboration with security agencies, would fish out the perpetrators with a view to bringing them to book.”
It read further, “Governor Uzodimma however urged the leaders and people of the communities in the area to avail the government and security agencies of the vital information they need to do their work.
“He also prayed for God’s mercy for the victims and the fortitude for the families to bear the irreplaceable loss of their loved ones in the incident.”
On his part, Achonu asked the state government to become more serious with issues of security in the state.
The statement which he personally issued read, ” I received with shock the news of the despicable murder of eight security operatives in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State today.
“That unconscionable murder of innocent security operatives in the line of duty is reprehensible, highly condemnable and unacceptable in a modern society like ours.
“The latest onslaught in the recurrent sparks of violence is more condemnable because it happened in my own constituency.
“I feel particularly hurt by this carnage, having invested millions of my personal funds to repair nine faulty Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, out of which five were supposed to be deployed in Okigwe Zone in order to ensure the safety of these security operatives in the exercise of their high risk job.
“Apart from using them to rig the last elections in the state, the government should explain the whereabouts of these vehicles and the uses to which they are deployed.
“Therefore, I call on the state government to deploy the same in the area immediately for the safety of these security personnel.
“I hope the state government has not run short of ideas on how to secure the lives and property of the people, which is its primary assignment.
“It is inexplicable that Imo State has become a war theatre and epicentre of violence and bloodbath in the entire South-east.
“I also call on the Federal Government to rejig the entire security apparatchik in Imo State because Ndi Imo shall no longer accept this horrific wastage of lives and property.
“While I condole the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force and the entire security network and families of the fallen heroes, I also plead with the people shedding innocent blood to desist.
“I also charge Ndi Imo not to surrender to the blackmail of the enemy of the people but to remain resolute in their desire to enthrone light over darkness.”
Source: Punch