The immediate past Secretary to the Imo state government, Uche Onyeaguocha has described the killing of youths of Otulu community in Oru East council area of Imo state who were returning from a traditional wedding held on Sunday at Awo Mmamma by members of Ebubeagu , the Imo state government security outfit, as horrific and barbaric.
Onyeaguocha lamented that enough blood has been shed in the state, and that NdiImo cannot continue to mourn anymore.
Onyeaguocha who condemned the incident in its entirety said: “This mindless killing spree has continued unremittingly. It is heartbreaking to note that since the unfortunate imposition of Hope Uzodimma by Justice Tanko’s Supreme Court in January 2020, more than three thousand innocent Imolites have been butchered by government sponsored gunmen.
“Governor Uzodinma has never shown any modicum of concern but instead has remained nonchalant and arrogant in the face of deafening public outcry.
This indifference is an assault on the collective insensibility of Imo people and a height of wickedness and heartlessness.
”Government has as its primary responsibility, the protection of lives and property of its citizens. Obviously, this duty is lost on Governor Uzodimma who has remained obstinate in his resolve to wipe out Imo youths. Enough blood has been shed in the state, and NdiImo cannot continue to mourn anymore.”
Onyeagucha commiserated with the families of the victims of the gruesome murder and prays God to give them the fortitude to bear their losses.
Also, Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere who expressed worry over ceaseless killings in Orlu senatorial zone, has called for immediate independent investigations into the causes of alleged deaths of innocent sons and daughters of the State.
The former Deputy Governor insisted that securing Imo and warding away criminal elements does not include erasing the youthful human resources of the State.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide Uche Onwuchekwa ,calls for an independent investigations into the root cause of the myriad reports of killing of innocent family members and other incidents of deaths shrouded in mystery.
The statement which read, “While we commend the Governor for his resolute stance in keeping Imo State safe, the sordid happenings and alleged Killings directed at the youthful population of Imo West Senatorial zone must be condemned in its entirety.”
“We call for an independent investigations into some of the reported mysterious killings. Some families have been wiped out while others have been eternally injured. Most of these people are said to be innocent of any gangster ism banditry and other criminal activities.
“I will suggest that “Forensic Experts” should be deployed to resolve some of the killings.
“I have always recommended deployment of crisis resolution approach to resolving some these security challenges. We have tried it in the past and we got great result. Carrot and stick is part of the strategies and everything is wrong if we continue to keep quiet just to be politically correct”.
Prince Madumere further called on the Governor Uzodimma to review the modus operandi of the state government sponsored “Ebubeagu” to avoid wiping out those who will sustain the existence of Imo as a State”.
Meanwhile, Youths of Amiri, Otulu , Awo – Omama communities in Oru west and Oru east councils of Imo state on Tuesday continued their protest over the massacre of fourteen youths, with several others nursing varying degrees of gunshot wounds on Sunday when they were attacked by members of the Imo state sponsored security out fit Ebebuagu.
The irate youths who barricaded the busy Owerri / Onitsha express way had resulted in a grid lock are calling for the scrapping of the state government security outfit, Sun news reports.
Chimezie Amafor , one of the protesters ,said that they are carrying out the peaceful protest because of the extra- judicial killings by the state governor sponsored security outfit – Ebubeagu.
”When the Ebubeagu people come to any where that an event is going on they start shooting sporadically and killing people in the process and later say that they are criminals. This is what has been going on this area everyday , we can’t even sleep in our homes because of these Ebubeagu people of those killed was buried yesterday (Monday ) many others have sustained spray bullet wounds. We can’t continue to live like this. If they are looking for criminals they should go after them and not just killing peoples especially the youths for fun”. He lamented .
Also, Chidozie Ekesinachi, who lost two of his siblings Ifechi , 18 years old and Chukwuemeka ,20 years, said that he was himself arrested ,beaten and detained by members of the Ebubeagu for crying over the dead body of his younger when he got where he was killed and abandoned on the road.
He said that it when the youths started protesting on Monday that he was released from Ebubeagu cell in Omuma , council headquarters of Oru – East council area.
”We want justice for the killing of my younger brothers for no offence”. He said .
