Uzodimma has linked the Imo INEC office attack to the unprincipled activities of desperate politicians in the state.
Smarting from the early Monday attack on the Imo State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by hoodlums, the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, has linked the ugly incident to the unprincipled activities of desperate politicians in the state.
The reason for the attack, the governor said, is to make the state ungovernable and prevent the 2023 elections from holding in the state. He, however, vowed that the hoodlums would not have their way as the security agents are up against their antics.
Uzodimma who made the disclosure in course of his visit to Imo Police Command in reaction to the Police gunning down three of the attackers, assured that security would be adequately provided INEC for the planned distribution of the permanent voter cards, PVC, in the state.
Men wearing Biafra camouflages bomb INEC headquarters in Imo
Uzodimma said, “You can see why INEC is the target if you corroborate it with the past where I had continuously said that what is happening in Imo State is politically inclined and that Imo State will be ungovernable and there will be no election in Imo State.
“However, Security agencies are prepared. INEC is prepared and there will be an election in Nigeria. I was told the majority of them who came on this journey are lying critically ill, some are neutralised and others fled with gunshot injuries. The police are ever committed. The other sister agencies are also committed to ensuring security in the state.
“My assurance is that we will have a very beautiful environment for Christmas God willing. Because in everything we do on this earth the will of God must prevail. This is a Holy Week – the period our lord Jesus Christ was born. The anointing and blessings bring peace in Imo.
“Also, we urge our people to come out and collect their PVC. There will be security agencies from the ward, local government areas to the state level. It will be a fruitful exercise. Let us remind our people that the collection of voters’ card is key and the government in collaboration with the security agencies will do our best”.
Hoodlums had bombed the Imo headquarters of INEC in Owerri in the wee hours of Monday, throwing grenades through the fence to destroy several offices and vehicles.
The heavy bombardment of the office located on the Owerri-Port Harcourt road alerted police officers stationed there who engaged the gunmen in a shoot-out which led to the death of three of the gunmen.
Sit-at- Home..Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide seeks arrest/repatriation of Simon Ekpa..over alleged involvement in killings/violence in S/East zone
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has demanded the arrest and repatriation of Mr Simon Ekpa (Self acclaimed Biafran agitator) by the Finish Embassy, over his alleged involvement in the killings and violence ravaging the five States of South-East geo-political zone of the country.
The Secretary General of the Organization Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, made the assertion in a Statement issued in Abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital on Monday.
According to the Statement, “Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has commenced the processes of ensuring that one Mr Simon Ekpa/others, responsible for the pandemonium, destruction of public properties, killings, and civil unrest in the south-east, face the consequences of their actions”
“in addition to the incitement of chaos, and their contributions towards the insecurity challenges in the South-east geo-political zone”
The Statement added, “Ndigbo has identified Mr Simon Ekpa, as the overseas provocateur and instigator for the current killings in Imo state, the destruction of public properties in Enugu State, disturbance of public peace and sporadic shootings in Ebonyi state”.
The Statement opined, “Ndigbo will liaise with relevant organizations, including the Finish Embassy in Nigeria, Nigerians in Diaspora, to seek ways to bring back Simon Ekpa to Nigeria to face prosecution and trials over the killings of South- Easterners”
It noted, ” burning of public properties, the disturbances of public peace, surprisingly, the so-called self-acclaimed Biafran agitator is championing the disruption of election processes in the south-east, with evil decrees against the collection of PVCs in the south-east”
The Statement expressed dismay that Simon Ekpa instituted an illegal but violent Sit-at-home, to undermine the economy of Ndigbo, stimulate violence, massacres, and chaos as Christmas gifts for Ndigbo.
The Statement calls for the immediate arrest and repatriation of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria, and decried his hiding behind Finish citizenship and Biafra agitation to wreak havoc, and influence the insecurity challenges against Ndigbo.
The Statement asserted that the actions of Simon Ekpa, was the height of deception and treachery against Ndigbo.
“Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide demands the immediate arrest of Simon Ekpa, it will end insecurity challenges in the east and served as a deterrent to others, who might want to consider being a menace to the people of the south-east zone”
Economic and Commercial activities in Abakaliki the Ebonyi State capital were paralysed in the early hours of Monday, as gunmen allegedly enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), invaded the town and set ablaze some major markets.
Investigations by our Correspondent revealed sporadic gunshots in major parts of abakaliki, resulting in the burning down of the popular Ishieke market.
Investigations equally indicated that the Gunmen invaded Afikpo town, another commercial city in the State leading to the closure of Eke Ukwu market in the area.
Also affected was the Ahia Ofu market located along the Enugu-Abakaliki Federal Highway, were traders and sympathizers were seen wailing and crying as some Sections of the market were razed down.
It was gathered that the fire incident started around 2am and destroyed goods worth millions of Naira.
When our correspondent visited the Ahia Ofu market abakaliki, many traders were seen wailing and crying profusely, calling for assistance from all tiers of Government.
Some Journalists who monitored the ugly development were trapped in the ravaging confusion.
A Correspondent of one of the National Tabloid who preferred anonymity, recounted that he sought refuge in a hotel to escape the wrath of the rampaging gunmen.
He opined, “I am taking refuge in a hotel now, I went to buy recharge card opposite government house when I saw people running helter sceltter “
According to him, “people hurridely parked their things inside their shops while traffic Policemen on duty opposite government house immediately changed their clothes”
He continued, “I ran out of that area following heavy gunshots at Kpirikpiri where the road were deserted.
Sit-at-home : Anambrarians continue to defy 5-day, Monday sit-at-home order
Residents of Anambra State, especially Onitsha and environs, on Monday continued to defy both the five-day and non existent Monday sit-at-home order allegedly issued by Finland based Simon Ekpa.
The order, seen as child’s play, according to some residents, would only be obeyed by those who benefit from illegalities as Ekpa can not stay in Finland and be issuing order to the Igbo race.
According to an Onitsha based trader, Mr. Okeke Aganafu, days were gone when people were used ignorantly by those who they thought were fighting for their welfare
“Everybody has shined his eyes, are we fools that somebody who is based in Finland will be issuing order to us. If I have my way I will ensure he is brought to Igbo land to give account of the number of people he may have deceived as a freedom fighter.
“I am happy that most people have known what he thinks he is the only one that knows. He is comfortable in Finland, possibly being sponsored by enemies of progress in Igbo land to cause crises but God will not allow him,” he prayed.
Also reacting, “a barrow pusher at the notorious Upper Iweka axis, Onitsha, who simply identified himself as Mathew, from Abakaliki, hinted that he has not visited his Abakaliki country home for about a year now because of killings that that are being perpetrated by Simon Ekpa followers.
“We are in trouble in Abakaliki and that is why I have not gone home for about a year now and I don’t have hope of going this Christmas period because Simon Ekpa has been using the youths there against the State Government and the Nnamdi Kanu-led group
“In Anambra such thing can’t happen because there is water tight security and residents easily give information on any ugly incident. You can see that both the five-day and Monday sit-at-home order are not working in Anambra State.
“The people are matured and are all security security conscious. I was in Upper Iweka one day when four boys who claimed to be IPOB members were shooting indiscriminately and before you know it, plain clothe security operatives rounded them up and whisked them away with in a waiting van,
“People are going about their normal businesses in Onitsha today and even from 9th of December, defying the non existent sit-at-home order issued by Simon Ekpa. His men are zero per cent in Anambra but in Enugu they are up to 10 per cent and in Ebonyi State they are 15 per cent,” he revealed
Recall that in a press state by the State Commissioner for Information, Hon.Paul Nwosu, people were urged to disregard the order and go about their normal businesses and daily activities peacefully.
“The Christmas season is a period of joy and happiness and government will go all out to ensure that the mood is not dampened in any way. All the various arms of our security agencies are on full alert to ensure safety of lives and properties as well as apprehend those who may breach the peace and tranquility of the State this season.
Anambra State Government also finds it disturbing that a renegade and expelled member of IPOB will, from the comfort of his Finland home, continue to issue cold-blooded and murderous orders that are aimed at destabilizing Igboland. This is condemnable and an atrocious crime against the enterprising and peace-loving people of Igboland.
” It’s about time the Federal Government took necessary steps to contain these foreign agents who are bent on fomenting needless crisis in the south eastern states.
It is pertinent to note that in a swift reaction by the authentic IPOB leadership led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, stated that “the global family of IPOB, under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu did not issue any sit-at-home order on the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th December”, Nwosu stated.
