Abia Gov Places N5m Bounty On Killers Of Policeman, Imposes Curfew On Aba, Umuahia

Following last night’s attack on police officers on duty around Azikiwe Road by Asa in Aba, Abia State, and the subsequent killing of one of them by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu, today, imposed a curfew on the state capital, Umuahia, and the commercial city of Aba.

The governor also approved a cash reward of N5, 000,000.00 only to anyone who would provide information leading to the arrest of the hoodlums and armed cultists.

Our correspondent gathered that the attackers, numbering over 30, also carted away arms and ammunition of the police personnel.

One of the suspects was, however, apprehended with gunshot injuries.

The governor’s decision also followed reported cases of armed cultists and hoodlums sneaking into the state from different parts of the country in large numbers; the burning down of at least two police stations; reported killing of two policemen in the last two days, as well as leaked plans to unleash more violence on innocent citizens.

To this end, Governor Ikpeazu has directed security agents to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums, pursue a swift and complete recovery of the stolen arms and ammunition, and ensure the cultists were flushed out.

A release by Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Abia State commissioner for information, and made available to THE WHISTLER in Umuahia, stated that the 24-hour curfew, effective 6pm today, was aimed at ensuring the continued security of lives and property of law-abiding citizen in the state.

According to the statement, “Governor Ikpeazu has approved a cash reward of N5, 000,000.00 only to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the hoodlums and armed cultists. This is in addition to the approval of a reward of N1, 000,000.00 for each authentic video evidence on brutality and extrajudicial killings by security agents in the state submitted to the judicial panel of inquiry being inaugurated to investigate the incidents.”

The governor, in the statement, further warned parents and guardians to strongly monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure that “they are not engaged in nefarious activities, predispose themselves to harm or allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem in the state.”