The Ebonyi State Government Southeast Nigeria has commended the arrest and parade of a 15-member gang who terrorised innocent citizens of the State on Tuesday morning, 4th July 2023 trying to enforce an illegal sit-at-home order said to have been proclaimed by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB by Nigeria Police.
This was contained in a statement of the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation Engineer Jude Okpor in Abakaliki the State Capital.
“It was indeed disturbing that the peaceful ambience which had prevailed in our dear State was disrupted for the first time under the present administration, when some Unknown-Gun-Men carried out wanton attacks on some innocent citizens of the State conducting their lawful businesses at Ishieke market junction, Ahia Ofu and Ukwuagba market in Ngbo at the outskirts of the Abakaliki Urban metropolis in Ebonyi and Ohaukwu Local Government Areas of the State,” the statement read.
Innocent citizens
The Commissioner said it was confirmed that no life was lost during the ugly encounter, but property worth millions of naira were destroyed. Most worrisome was the fear instilled on innocent citizens in other parts of Abakaliki and beyond State by the evil actions of the said hoodlums.
The Ebonyi State government is satisfied with the spontaneous response of the men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Ebonyi State Command and indeed, the sister security agencies in the State who responded to the directives of security conscious governor by arresting and parading the 15 suspects, including their native Doctor.
They were apprehended barely 48hours after the attack speaks volume of the intelligence network and investigative capabilities of the State’s Security Apparatus.
“We are also abundantly satisfied with the level of synergy given by both the sister security agencies and members of the public that led to eventual arrest of the gang members while reportedly plotting to carry out what may have been even a deadlier attack on unsuspecting Citizens of the State.
Security of lives
The Ebonyi State Government therefore sincerely wish to commend the outgoing State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Sunday Faleye Olaleye and his team for their zeal, resilience and outright commitment in ensuring the security of lives and property of Ebonyi citizens.
“The show-of-force parade in Abakaliki and other parts of the State by the joint security patrol as directed by the governor, no doubt further assuaged the fears of some worried and concerned Ebonyi citizens and assured them of the readiness of the state government to live up to their Constitutional responsibility of protecting their lives and property,” Okpor stated.
“We equally express our honest appreciation to other formal and informal security formations, including the Council Chairmen SSAs and SAs on Internal Security in the 13 Local Government Areas in the State for their candid roles in ensuring that our dear State remains in a calm and peaceful climate for the actualization of “the People’s Charter of needs” agenda of the government of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.”
“We therefore wish to also use this opportunity to warn all criminal elements within and around the State to keep off the Salt of the Nation as this government would not tolerate any form of criminality or gangsterism that may disrupt the peace and tranquility necessary for the total delivery of the people-oriented programmes and policies of Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru”. He said.
Consequently, the government in Ebonyi State places great premium on security of lives and property and therefore enjoins all citizens and residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear as it would continue to do all that is within it’s powers to protect and preserve them, their businesses and property in accordance with the law.
Lateefah Ibrahim
