Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State Governor, has expressed optimism that with the arrest of Okechukwu Nlewedim, popularly known as Ejima, the ring leader of the hoodlums causing death, pains and destruction in the state, the state was getting close to final peace.
Speaking at the Imo State head office of the Department of State Services (DSS) during the parade of Ejima by the DSS, Uzodimma said: “We want to thank God and the security officers and also continue to urge them not to relent, until we bring final peace to the state. I think we are getting close to doing that”, he said.
The governor said the level of destruction Ejima and his gang has caused to Imo State, especially Orlu zone is monumental and unbelievable.
He said the arrest of Ejima will further help the curse of investigation, to get to the root of insecurity in the state, providing an opportunity to bring down the violence.
“The important thing now is knowing what is really responsible for the level of killing and destruction that these boys are carrying out in Imo State. Now that we have arrested one of the ring leaders, it will be a lead to arresting more of the leaders.
Fielding questions from newsmen the Imo State of the DSS said Ejima, whose real name is Okechukwu Ama Nlewedim, has been in the wanted list of security agencies because of his destructive activities such as; Burning of houses, burning of government facilities, killing of innocent people, among others.
He described him as one of the commanders of the terror gang, who commands the Njaba Cell and overlaps into Oru West and Orlu, adding that he was part of the team that burnt the INEC office and was planning with his gang to burn more INEC offices in the state.He said Ejima was picked up along Onitsha Road.
According to the DSS commander, with the support of the state governor, the security agents were poised to ensure that normalcy returns to the state, as they have strategies to go after the criminals, one after the other.
While being interviewed by journalists, the suspects mentioned two names of their alleged sponsors as; Chinasa Nwori and “High Priest” who they said instructs them to kill army and police personnel for blocking their freedom.
