Gunmen intensify killings, arson in Anambra, Imo
Gunmen at the weekend continued killings and arson in Anambra and Imo states.
In Anambra, they killed two officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC) and torched a Local Government secretariat in Imo.
Hoodlums had on Thursday killed a security man and burnt a section of Nnewi South council in Ukpor, Anambra State
The killings in Anambra on Sunday took place along Igboukwu -Ezinifite -Uga Road in Aguata council.
Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, who confirmed the incident, said the team leader, who sustained severe injuries was rushed to the hospital. One of the team members was luckier as he dashed into the bush when the gunmen struck.
Kazeem said, “The patrol team were conducting routine patrol operations today (Sunday) at about 2:45 pm along Igbo-Uku- Uga route in Anambra State when the armed men opened fire at them, killing two of the corps personnel with one escaping into the bush. The team was leader rushed to the hospital after sustaining severe injuries from the attack.
“The Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, who was visibly touched says he decried the attack while condoling the families of the deceased staff members.
“Oyeyemi also assured that the Corps is already working with the Nigerian Police Force and other relevant security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of this wicked act are arrested and allowed to face the full weight of the law.”
In Imo, a member of the state House of Assembly, Ekene Nnodumele, told The Nation., that he did not know who torched the headquarters of the Orsu council.
“It happened in the early hours of today(Sunday) but I am not sure if those who carried out the act,”Nnodumele said.
But a resident of the area, who gave her name as Chibuzo Ukah, said the attack was carried out by gunmen troubling communities in the Southeast.
According to her, several buildings, including the chairman’s office, administrative block and parked vehicles were also torched.
Another source, who pleaded anonymity, said “ Orsu is a no go area for male youths because of the activities of these gunmen..”
A worried governor Uzodimma reiterated during a church service in Owerri yesterday, that the opposition was responsible for the worsening security in the state.
He claimed that the opposition was afraid of his modest achievements.
“They have rather decided to put fears in the people by attacking individual houses and burning government institutions to make people believe that they are still in charge,” the governor said, adding that “God will stop them.”
He however said that his government was “tracking those involved in the dastard act of killing and maiming of innocent people for no just cause.
“Government has all it takes to match their force for force and killing for killing but will not do that as it is careful not to let blood and cause colossal damage and destruction.”
Uzodimma assured that “soon government will identify and separate those using the name of IPOB(Indigenous People of Biafra) to perpetuate crime from those who are actual criminals, kidnappers and armed robbers.”
He noted that “citizens have the right to criticise government objectively, but not to take life and burn down government institutions and individual houses in the name of opposition or in any guise.”
The governor also warned the people against land grabbing and illegal allocations in the state.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning and the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) will soon embark on the demolition of structures on government land that is not properly allocated.
