INSECURITY IN IMO STATE: CEASE FIRE AND SAVE IMO NOW OR RESIGN.
Previously, Imo State used to be a Haven of peace with high level of security so much that people from neighboring states were visiting Imo State for night life, businesses and tourism until January 14, 2020, when a seven-member panel of the supreme court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to His Excellency, RT. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and issue a fresh one to Senator Hope Uzodimma, who the court declared the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
It is worthy of note that Gov Hope Uzodinma was brought to power through the instrumentality of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and with the Advent of this new government, Imo State became a criminal den and a killing hub with the governor abetting those killings, using his Ebubeagu team, the police and the military.
It is unfortunate that under Gov Hope Uzodinma’s watch, Imo State has become a theater of war and killings, impunity and abuse of human rights. Intimidation of the citizens and extrajudicial killings under Gov Hope Uzodinma’s watch have reached astronomical heights. Even his native Orlu zone is now a no go area. At this juncture, it’s expedient we have a chronicle of the killings under Gov Hope Uzodinma’s administration.
Under Gov Uzodinma’s watch, not less than 15 divisional police headquarters have been attacked by unknown gun men. These attacks also include the state police command headquarters, the Owerri correctional centre and military checkpoints not excluding INEC offices across the state. The burning down of Ngor/Okpala INEC office and the unwanton killings and destruction of INEC office, Ihitte/Uboma are clear indices.
Under Gov Hope Uzodinma’s led administration, a 200 level student of the Imo State University, Owerri, Divine Nwaneri, female, aged 23, who hailed from Obollo community in Isiala Mbano LGA was killed by over zealous soldiers with the Governor not doing anything to unravel the her killers.
Under Governor Uzodinma’s led government, a farmer was shot and killed in his car whose corpse was deposited into the FMC morgue by same soldiers who killed him.
Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration also witnessed the killing of Mrs Chikaodi Ofoegbu, a mother of 4 who was killed by over zealous soldiers at Eziama-Obiato along the Onitsha-Owerri express way with the Governor being at ease with it.
Under his watch, a promising young business man from Ngor/Okpala, Noel Chigbu who was aged 33, was killed by military men who mounted a checkpoint on the Owerri-Orlu road, claiming he violated military checkpoint rules and one begins to wonder when extrajudicial killing bacame a punishment for violating a checkpoint rules. It was so sad and heartbreaking that Noel Chigbu was killed same day he had delivery of his car.
Under Gov Uzodinma’s watch, one Mr. Oguchi Unachukwu, a Germany based Nigerian was killed by a personnel of the Nigerian Air Force on his way to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport, Ngor/Okpala. He was rushing to catch a flight to Lagos when he was gruesomely murdered in the presence of his wife and children. Yet the Governor never condemned this.
Under his watch, his own Orlu Zone has been under attack with the daily burning down of houses, maiming of lives, killings and unwanton destruction of businesses and properties. It is unfortunate that the man who governs the State is a man who cannot put his own house in order. What then makes us think he is competent to oversee the affairs of Imo State?
Under Governor Uzodinma’s watch, one Matthew Opara alongside others were killed by the security operatives.
Under his watch, an officer of the NSCDC, one Glory Nkwocha was killed in Orlu.
It’s an absurdity to realise that under Gov Uzodinma’s watch, few months ago, about 107 Imo Youths were indiscriminately arrested, charged for felony and clampped into the Owerri Correctional Centre. What about those who have been kidnapped, taken to unknown places and were killed? Imo State is bleeding! adminstrative incompetency is the reason!!
I still remember few months ago, the morgue department of the FMC Owerri, made a publication that people should visit the morgue and identify the corpses of their loved ones as the management was planning for a mass burial of unidentified corpses.
It’s very unfortunate that the Governor has pitched his tent with these killers in uniform. He has never condemned the activities of these killers in uniform, he has never openly warned the Police, Ebubeagu and the military against any form of abuse or killing of Imo people.
Early this year, he said he was going to name the sponsors of these killings and till now he, hasn’t named anyone. This makes us understand that Governor Hope Uzodinma is serving the antics of his taskmasters by declaring war on Imolites and the Igbos in general.
We the concerned Imolites, therefore urge the Governor to cease fire, save the state and return Imo to her original glory by:
*Making peace with those he has aggrieved,
*Organising a security summit where ideas could be shared to curtail these unwanton killings,
*Making a press statement condemning these killings and warning the security operatives openly against human rights abuses and killings,
*Deploying civilian friendly strategies and approaches in fighting crimes or *He should resign honourable as his incompetency is obvious to all.
Reasons being that Imo State and her economy cannot grow above her security level. No investor would want to invest in a war torn area. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Imo State cannot rise when there’s high level of insecurity and this puts Imo State on a negative world map. GOV’NOR UZODINMA, CEASE FIRE, SAVE IMO OR RESIGN
Rev Justice Nmezi
Writes from Ngor/Okpala.
nmezijusticec@yahoo.com
