Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has granted a 10-day amnesty to bandits operating and hibernating in the forests in Imo State to leave immediately and surrender themselves and their arms to their traditional rulers for unconditional pardon or face the consequences.
Governor Uzodimma who spoke at the Government House Chapel Owerri while addressing the congregation after Sunday Service said that the government has decided to rid the forests in Imo State of bandits and accordingly, has procured the necessary equipment for the purpose, hence the need for those of them who want to be reintegrated into the society to take advantage of the amnesty and quit now and hand over their arms.
“The state is more determined now than before to clear all bandits and to achieve this, the expected equipment and additional recruitment of more Ebube-Agu personnel, working in collaboration with the security agencies in the state, will be used to clear all the waterways and rid the state of bandits, including crude-oil thieves.
“All the waterways are under surveillance with the delivery of new Naval Equipment to the Naval Base in Oguta,” he said.
He emphasised that the period of grace will not be extended as those who fail to take advantage of it will have themselves to blame.
The Governor also announced that President Muhammadu Buhari who is expected to declare open the Army Day celebration has also fixed July 12th to 13th, 2022 as the period he would commission the Owerri-Orlu and Owerri-Okigwe roads as well as perform the flag-off of the construction of Owerri – Mbaise – Umuahia (from Fire Service) and the Orlu-Akokwa roads and the foundation laying ceremony of the Imo International Conference Centre in Owerri.
Governor Uzodimma revealed that the state will be hosting the annual Nigerian Army Day Celebration from June 30 to July 6, adding that no fewer than 10,000 personnel drawn from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police among others would be in attendance.
These security operations, he stated, would be led by the chiefs of Army Staff, Naval Chief, and Air Staff, as well as the Inspector General of Police.
