The confusion in the rising attacks on Imo Police
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The recent attacks on the correctional centre in Owerri, the Imo state capital and the headquarters of the state police command is creating concerns among the people of the state.
There have been Two other attacks , one on the Ehime Mbano divisional headquarters and the other on Mbieri divisional headquarters.
The spate of attacks is making residents of the state to wonder if insurgency has found a new base in Imo State.
Both experts and residents of Imo State are more worried about the source and sponsors of these attacks in a state that is considered secure and peaceful.
The reaction of the state governor Hope Uzodimma seems not to be helping the situation as he appears as confused as the people.
Governor Uzodimma had first accused the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, of being responsible for the attacks. After IPOB denied the accusation, the governor then accused former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, with whom he has been in a running battle.
However, these unsubstantiated accusations notwithstanding Bright Eluagu, an Owerri based Lawyer told signature TV, that the governor may be pointing at the real culprits.
With these attacks attacks spreading outside Owerri the state capital, community and local government leaders have been meeting to design appropriate response to what looks like a move to make Imo state ungovernable and unsafe for both businesses and social activities.
Some stakeholders are recommending citizen self help especially as the state government was alleged to have been Warned before the Owerri attacks.
There are those however who say that it remains the Constitutional duty of the government to secure the lives and property of the citizen and therefore it will be undermining the Constitution and creating anarchy for the people to resort to self -help.
The reaction of the governors of the South-East States to the increasing insecurity in the region by the formation of Ebubeagu, a region Security Network, has also draw reactions of Imo residents Victor Onyenaegecha says the governors reaction was coming too late because the IPOB has already filled the vacuum by the formation of the Eastern security Network. Ebubeagu, beside being a duplication of efforts could run in conflict with the one formed by IPOB
However Bright Eluagu says since both outfits are to serve the same purpose of security the Sout-Easth, their operations will not bring about any disagreement.
The attack on the the Owerri correctional centre and the headquarters of Imo State Police Command has been condemned by the Nigerian governors forum and president Muhammadu Buhari has described it as an act of terrorism.
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