The horrifying spectacle of the killing spree recorded in places such as Izombe, Agwa, Ejemkwuru, Awa, Akabuo, Mgbele and Ogbaku communities in Imo state, South-East Nigeria, is not only condemnable but demands an unbiased investigation to unveil those responsible for the mindless mayhem and bring them to speedy justice.
According to the National President, Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC), Igboayaka O. Igboayaka and its Secretary General, Ifeanyi Nweke, about 50 people were brutally sent to their early graves while over 170 houses were razed to rubbles within two weeks in early June, 2023. This mind-bending spilling of precious human life and wanton destruction of valuable property, according to the duo, were carried out by some criminal elements code-named “Umuoma” (Good children). But how good their nefarious and hideous wasting of human life is remains to be seen!
Governor Imo State
In fact, going by the press statement made by the OYC, the disturbing aspect of the blood-letting insecurity challenge is the silence on the part of the Governor Hope Uzodinma-led government of Imo state. And that, of course, has sparked off some pertinent questions.
Reacting to these gruesome murders, Henry Okoye, the spokesperson of the police in Imo state said that Ahmed Barde, the Commissioner of Police, had drafted a high powered team “to track down” the hoodlums.
Although the Nigerian government has severally accused members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as those behind the atrocities in the South-East, the body has kept denying the charge.
The deteriorating insecurity in Imo state is characterized by frequent killings of unarmed, innocent citizens, security officers and the pulling down of some houses.
As reported on May 26, 2023, the killing of Victor Ijioma, a traditional ruler in Oguta Local Government Arera of Imo state as well as the traditional prime minister of Mgbele, known as the Isama of Mgbele, is highly disturbing. While the former was ambushed, killed at Umuamaka junction with his body set ablaze, the latter was wasted in a separate attack. In a similar despicable manner, two police officers were killed at Okpala junction in Ulakwo, a community in Ngor Okpala LGA.
Source: Independent.ng
