6th March, 2020
Governor Hope Uzodinma has visited Okigwe, where cult men went on the rampage Thursday night, killing no fewer than three persons and injuring another four as residents scampered into the bush.
Uzodimma gave an assurance as he visited Friday that government was on top of the situation. He urged citizens to go about their normal businesses without any fear.
“We are concerned as a government because the primary responsibility of every reasonable government is to guarantee security for its citizens”, he said.
“When I heard that this ugly thing happened, I became very apprehensive, made phone calls, met with the Security Agencies and agreed to be here today to nip the problem in the bud.”
On the rumour that the attackers could be Fulani herdsmen, the Governor cautioned against fake news capable of causing disaffection.
He said based on the arrest made so far and the confessional statements of the suspects, it was discovered that the attack was masterminded and carried out by natives of the area.
On allegation that the security operatives did not respond promptly, Governor Uzodimma said: “Under my watch in Imo State, there must be security. I am aware that Security Agencies responded after the incident. They may not have responded the way you wished, but because intelligence drives every investigation, I want to announce to you that an arrest has been made and one of those that killed these people has been arrested and the telephone number of one of the victims has been recovered from him. This man is an indigene, he is from here”, the Governor stated.
He commended the security agencies for rising to the occasion.
He urged them to get to the root of the matter and arrest the two remaining suspects who are still on the run.
While condoling with the bereaved families, the Governor promised that his administration will launch a security outfit on the 14 March, 2020, in fulfilment of his pledge to bring criminality to a halt across the zones of the state.
Governor Uzodimma equally urged traditional rulers and town unions to help the police by providing reasonable information and at the same time ensure that the local vigilante are working very well.
A community leader in the area and former House of Representative member, Hon. Matthew Omeogara explained that gunmen who came on a motorbike stopped at one of the eateries in the area and opened fire on the people, killing three and wounding many others. He noted that the attack was targeted at local vigilante men in the area, pointing out that the security apparatus in the area needs to be re-jigged and operational vehicles provided for them for prompt response to distress calls.
The Governor was accompanied to Okigwe Local Government by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku; Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Chiji Collins; Secretary to State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu; Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie; and all the heads of security in the State.
Earlier, the police gave an account of the shooting in Okigwe.
Orlando Ikeokwu, spokesman of the police confirmed that three persons were killed while another four sustained gunshot wounds.
He attributed the attack to rival cult members.
Ikeokwu, said three suspects have been arrested. .
“At about 11:30pm on Thursday the command received a distress call of sporadic shooting around Elezuo/Umuchima street in Okigwe, and as a result, the Divisional Police Officer led a team from the division, Area Command and SARS annex Okigwe, to the scene where they met two corpses and five others with various degrees of gunshot injuries.
“However, one of the injured five later gave up the ghost bringing the death toll to three.The corpses has been deposited in the morgue, while the injured ones are presently receiving treatment”.
“The command has made arrests and still following up other leads while investigations is still in progress” .