The Imo State Police Command on Monday
paraded 15 suspects accused of
attacking the convoy of the State Governor,
Hope Uzodinma, at New Owerri while on his
way to a function at Obinze.
Briefing newsmen shortly before parading
the suspects, the State Commissioner of
Police, Isaac Akinmoyede, alleged that
the suspects armed with a locally-made
pistol, machetes and a masquerade’s
mask, smashed the backup vehicles in the
Governor’s convoy.
According to the CP, the suspects, who
claimed to be personnel of the Imo State
Oil Producing Area Commission
(ISOPADEC), ‘had ambushed the convoy
with their weapons’ before a reinforcement
patrol came to avert the situation.
All the suspects, according to Akinmoyede,
has been handed over to the Criminal
Investigation Department (CID) for further
investigation.
Although the suspects have claimed to be
the staff of ISOPADEC, the State
Government has insisted that they are not
staff of the commission.
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the Commission was abortive as at press time.
But a source close to the Commission said it was illogical to allege that the governor’s convoy was ambushed with a machete and a locally made pistol when it is public knowledge the governor had a detachment of heavily armed security personnel in his convoy at all times.
The claims and assertions of the police are largely exaggerated and apparently sponsored by the state government which has been owing the commission staff for upwards of three months now.
