Following the rising incidents of insecurity in Abia State, the Governor, Alex Otti, has pointed accusing fingers at opposition politicians in the State. This is even as he said the elements are acting in connivance with “some external parties” to destabilize the State.
Recall that security situation in the once peaceful Abia State have deteriorated in recent times. With armed men attacking and killing military personnel at both checkpoints and elsewhere.
Last Wednesday, ISUIKWUATO VOICE reported that unknown gunmen killed two Nigerian soldiers at a checkpoint on the Umuahia-Owerri Road. The gunmen have stormed the checkpoint in Ekeneobizi Community in Umuahia South Local Government Area, dismantling checkpoint and shooting sporadically.
Few days after the checkpoint attack, a police operative was gunned down on Sunday in Abia State. The police orderly was killed when the gunmen attacked the convoy of a Nigerian lawmaker in the State.
While the identities of the gunmen have remined unknown, the Nigerian Government has repeatedly accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being behind the deadly attacks.
An allegation that IPOB has denied.
However, in a statement on Monday by the media aide to the Abia State Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, claimed that the State Government has firmly established the identities of those responsible for the insecurity in the State.
According to him, this administration has now “firmly established,” through tip-offs from residents, that the attacks were being sponsored by opposition politicians in the State, not IPOB.
Quoting the Governor, Ekeoma said the unnamed opposition politicians began sponsoring the violence since the end of May this year.
“The sole agenda is to cause disaffection and distract the government from its focus on the development of the State.
“This strategy kicked in as they realized that their initial efforts at churning out lies and fabrications against the government in pretentious posturing as “opposition” has failed to gain currency amongst Abia people. Who have thoroughly ignored them and their antics, since they know the truth,” he said.
Governor Otti stated that the State Government has been noted for its peaceful and nonviolent disposition. He, therefore, insisted that it would not yield to blackmail or intimidation.
He said, “It needs to be understood that the government will not sit idly by and watch any person or group of persons unleash violence on innocent and peace-loving citizens of the State.”
The Governor, therefore, warned that the State Government would come hard on the sponsors of the insecurity and violence. “And we will “smoke them out” of the State,” he said.
Otti boasted that his administration was “prepared and equal to the task of safeguarding” the lives and property of Abia residents.
He, therefore, announced that a “counter offensive” has now been launched by the government. And is prepared to “decimate every structure of terror erected or being erected” in any part of the State.
The Governor urged residents to cooperate with the Government and security operatives to stamp out criminals in the State.
He said, Government wishes to strongly warn that anyone that attempts to play politics with the lives and property of innocent Abians should be ready to face the consequences. As the Government will no longer tolerate such acts. No matter who is behind them.”
Otti, therefore, asked community leaders and traditional rulers in the State to be vigilant. He urged them to report suspicious activities to the law enforcement agencies for appropriate actions.
The Governor also called on parents and guardians to monitor activities of their children and loved ones. This is in order to ensure they do not indulge in any form of criminal activity in the State.
source: Premium Times
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