BY RALPH EJIMKONYE
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and a faction of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Monday differed on attacks on Imo State Correctional Centre, Owerri and the State Police headquarters.
Uzodimma blamed the IPOB members for the attacks which he said was to create fears in the minds of the people and at the same time strive to secure the release of their fellow criminals in custody.
Speaking to newsmen after a tour of the two institutions in the company of Chiefs of other security agencies like the Army, DSS, Civil Defence, the Police, and the Correctional Services Centre, Governor Uzodimma said the attacks were both cowardly and politically motivated.
Governor Uzodimma noted that government was on top of the situation knowing full well that the primary reason government exists is the protection of lives and property of the citizenry.
He said he had met with the heads of security agencies in the state to evaluate the incident and was confident the situation had been brought under control. ” We are on top of the situation and there is no need for undue anxiety,” the governor said.
But a faction of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, disagreed with the Governor and rather blamed him for the recent security breaches in the State.
Engr Chidi Ibeh who leads a faction of Ohaneze said the invasion of Orlu areas weeks ago by the military in uniform was responsible for the security breaches.
“The uprisings, waves of violence and banditry in Imo State within the last 48hrs is a revengeful mission and well coordinated reprisal attacks against the Government of Imo State in response to the Governor’s acceptance of Military action and airstrikes against peaceful Eastern Security Network and IPOB members at Orlu recently, part of a statement signed by Secretary General of the group, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro stated.
“Consequently, Imo state Governor should now accept the full responsibilities of violence perpetrated in Owerri in the early hours of Easter Monday.
“The pattern and uniformity of the modus of operandi of the perpetrators shows there are evidences of a well coordinated serial attacks in almost police stations in all Igbo states at the early hours of each day, with the sole targets of amassing am munitions for the possible full scale banditry in the South-East, but the new dimension of the attacks at Owerri Correctional facility points that the perpetrators had equally released their members recently incarcerated by Imo State Governor over Orlu crisis.”
However, the Ohanaeze called for a ceasefire and reminded the perpetrators that “dialogue remains the best weapon of resolving conflicts and disputes and there are laid down procedures to nip at the bud these fast rising monsters in Southeast, which requires drastic measures.”
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