Imo Residents Feel Free With ‘Unknown Gunmen’ But Run From Police, Military — Ohanaeze Youths Tell Uzodinma

The Ohanaeze Youths Council (OYC) has decried the current situation in Imo State where residents allegedly feel free around “unknown gunmen” but quiver when they see police or military operatives.

According to OYC, the situation could be attributed to alleged indiscriminate arrests and extrajudicial killing, brutality and harassment of residents by security agents.

The group said it doesn’t speak well for armed gangs to be celebrated by residents while security agents are despised.

It, therefore, urged Governor Uzodinma to immediately rise up to his responsibility as the Chief Security Officer of Imo State by coming up with ways to address the situation before it crumbles his administration.

The group spoke through its national leader, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, in a statement on Sunday.

Igboayaka said the alleged unprofessional conduct of security operatives had made the residents to lose confidence in them.

The statement partly reads: “Since over two months, the brutal killing and arrest of innocent Imolites by Nigeria Police and Army is very alarming and suspicious.

“It has degenerated to a level where the masses hail the unknown gunmen, while they run for their life when they sight police and army coming with Hilux. Today, the people are afraid of army and police, but very friendly to unknown gunmen

“We’re rapidly moving into a societal decay where armed gangs are celebrated while security agents are despised, therefore, Gov. Hope Uzodinma should organize a security retreat and training of security agents working in Imo state. The administration of Shared Prosperity of Sen. Hope Uzodinma must design an operational principle and job prescription as the Chief Security Officer of Imo State to the security agents or they will drag his government into mass resistance.

“There’s so much tension in Imo state due to army and police reaction at scenes of crime. The police and army attack innocent Imolites, while they allow the armed gangs to flee, this is very suspicious.

“At this critical time, Sen. Hope Uzodinma should look deep and examine the activities of the Nigerian police and army in Imo State,” Igboayaka lamented.

“Gov. Uzodinma should set up an independent judicial commission of inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the death of some Imolites, starting from Divine Nwaneri who was killed at Government House junction, Mr. Noel Chigbu that was killed at Amakohia Flyover and others.

“Recently towards the student’s hostel around Owerri Club, innocent students were arrested, at Amakohia, Naze Ogbo Osisi, innocent youths were brutality beaten and arrested. At bank road Owerri, military men shot at one Mr. Okey Okoroha and two others in their vehicle, leaving two persons wounded,” Igboayaka recounted.