The Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Diocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, has advised Governor Hope Uzodimma, to convene what he described as “ceasefire meeting of all Imo stakeholders, no matter their disposition or leaning, for a concerted approach to quench the bloody fire already ravaging Imo people and destroying Imo State”
In a statement in Owerri, Friday, the Cleric said he is disturbed over the rate of killings in the State.
He wrote “On Thursday, the 3rd of June 2021, I visited the Owerri Federal Medical Centre Mortuary. As I painfully surveyed the thirty five corpses stark naked on the bare floor, stealthy dumped there within the last few days, victims of run away killers, military, Police and unknown gunmen, with no identification on them. I thought of many others who have been kidnapped, taken to unknown locations, killed and even butchered, as we continue to hear.Imo is bleeding.
He charged Governor Hope Uzodinma as the Chief Security officer to step up and stop the killings.
“On behalf of the already killed and even more, on behalf of the living now threatened daily with brutal death, I charge Governor Hope Uzodimma as the Chief Security Officer for Imo people to step up and stop the killings by whoever is responsible for them. I equally charge all users and abusers of guns and deadly weapons to stop the killings, to renounce violence and to denounce any show of pride in killing human beings.
The Archbishop revealed that he personally visited about 106 young men at Federal Correctional Centre “arrested from various locations, accused and charged to court jointly for planing to commit a treasonable felony. They are yet to be released”
He recalled that last year, he had advised Governor Hope Uzodimma and other Igbo leaders “to continue to protect our people and defend our lands.
“The charge was provoked by threats and acts of invasion of our farmlands by Fulani herdsmen. Now our way very lives are at stake as killings of Imo people are taking place in broad daylight and at nights by officially and unofficially armed men. Imo people are on the run from known and unknown gunmen. There is scare in the air and anxiety in the ground.