Imo: Attacks on police, correctional centre politically motivated to make South East ungovernable — Group
A group, under the auspices of Coalition of South-East Professional Network in Nigeria and Diaspora (CSEPNND), has condemned Monday’s attacks on the Imo State Police Command headquarters, including the state’s correctional facilities in Owerri by people suspected to be hoodlums.
The group, however, corroborated the allegation of the outgone Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, insisting that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was responsible for the crime.
It tasked security agencies to immediately swing into action with a view to not only fishing out the perpetrators but identifying their sponsors and make them face the wrath of the land.
Describing the act as not only barbaric but uncivilized and strange to the South East culture, it warned that unless the madness was immediately stopped, the region may be consumed by actions of the group it referred to as “criminal group.”
In a statement, on Tuesday, by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika, in reaction to the development, CSEPNND alleged that “this dastardly act is political and well calculated to make Imo State in particular and South East in general, ungovernable.”
“We condemn in totality the barbaric attack on Imo State Police Command’s headquarters in Owerri, Nigeria Correctional Centre headquarters, the military and some security agencies as well as government properties, by members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. This is not only cowardly but also uncivilized and strange to the culture of the Igbo people,” it said.
The group warned that “This madness supposedly coming from an outlawed group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) must be stopped immediately before the whole world starts seeing us as enemies of progress and anti-government.”
It claimed: “We are aware that this dastardly act is political and well calculated to make Imo State in particular and South East in general, ungovernable.”
“We, therefore, appeal to all Igbo sons and daughters of good will to immediately rise up to stop this madness before it consumes all of us,” it added.
The CSEPNND stated, “If we allow these criminals to weaken our security agencies in the South East, they will revert to us and make the state more ungovernable for all the citizens.”
It advised supposed sponsors of the act: “For some of our elites who are funding these criminals, we wish to passionately appeal to them to desist forthwith.”
“No matter the political differences, we must know that Imo State belongs to us all and if we destroy it today because of politics, we will be the first victims,” it further warned.
The group blamed security agencies, especially the newly appointed service chiefs, saying they have not lived up to people’s expectations.
It said: “We register our utmost displeasure with those trusted with the security of lives and property in Nigeria, especially the newly appointed service chiefs. We feel they are not up and doing despite the high expectations that greeted their appointments.” (Daily Independent)
