Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The Imo West Senatorial candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Comrade Precious Nwadike has raised concerns over the alleged extrajudicial killings of locals in the Orlu axis of Imo state by persons suspected to be military personnel deployed to the area.
This followed the recent attack of a police station at Nwaorieubi in Mbaitoli council area along Orlu road, Imo state where policemen allegedly ely lost their lives and a nearby checkpoint where two soldiers were allegedly killed.
In a statement signed by Nwadike, he noted that locals who he had sought to represent at the national assembly had inundated his phone line with calls alleging a systematic attack on locals for reasons they believe largely border on reprisal.
The Statement read: “I woke up this morning, inundated with distress calls ,narrating systematic killing of unarmed people of Orlu Local Government area by security operatives.Of a particular mention is one Mr Uwadi Ebuzoeme who was shot dead while in his shop at the market, Umuna, Orlu.The report has it that aside Ebuzoeme, some others have fallen victim of the shooting spree.
“I feel heartbroken by this development and beckon on our governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and other elected representatives to stand up in defence of our people.The deafening silence of some of our elected leaders is obviously not for the interest of our people; unhealthy to our democracy and safety of lives and property. Lets this unlawful attacks on innocent locals stop. “
He noted that the locals had revealed that the killing is in retaliation of the senseless killing of uniform personnel who were on duty at Nwaorieubi, Mbaitoli.
He continued:”While we vehemently condemn the attack on our security personnel and burning of police stations and government properties, I plead with those involved to stop the killing, it does nobody any good.The attackers or hoodlums should be seen as enemies of the people and the citizens must rise to help protect public properties across the state.
A community leader from the Mbaitoli Council area who craved anonymity sent a short note to our correspondent saying: “Please help us tell the Army and Police at Mbaitoli that the gunmen who caused the havoc at Nwaorieubi and environs are not from our local government. They drove in from somewhere else with their own agenda. The security personnel should stop laying siege to our communities and terrorising innocent indigenes. The perpetrators have long gone. And the security agencies know this.”
On whether there are known casualties, he said, “we just buried a brother yesterday. Again, Obum from Umudurualoka Uba Ifakala in Mbaitoli council area was killed the other day. The soldiers allegedly took possession of the other victims’ bodies”.
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