Account for lives wasted in Imo, PDP tells Uzodimma

•Gov accuses PDP instigating crisis, urges monarchs to mop up arms
•Police arrest another suspected Imo attacker

Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to account for the lives lost in the state, both military and civilian.

But the governor accused the PDP of instigating the crisis in the state, while advising it to desist from a fixated mindset. He also charged monarchs in the state’s autonomous communities to mop up arms from illegal possessors.

In another development, the police in Imo have arrested a suspected attacker of the Orji Police Station in Owerri.

Addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat yesterday, the Chairman, Chief Charles Ugwuh, regretted that the governor, as the Chief security officer in the state, remained in office watching Imo residents being massacred.

He demanded Uzodimma to withdraw the military from Imo roads.

The PDP demanded to know from Uzodimma what he knew about the gruesome murder of a PDP youth leader in his Oru Local Council of Imo.

PDP added: “The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, set up a high-powered independent investigation into the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak in Imo State, and bring the culprits to justice.”

Expressing worry at the militarisation of Imo, the mass arrest and killing of youths and the attendant reprisal attacks, the party stated that security has completely collapsed in the state.

According to PDP, the climax of insecurity in Imo is the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak.

But the governor, through his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, accused the PDP of instigating the crisis in the state.

He advised the opposition party to desist from a fixated mindset.

Uzodimma has, however, directed traditional rulers in the 647 autonomous communities in the state to mop up arms from criminal elements in their domains.

According to the media aide, the governor directed the Interim Management Committee (IMC) chairmen and town union presidents to realise the directive.

THE police in Imo have arrested a suspected attacker of the Orji Police Station in Owerri.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, stated: “On June 2, 2021, about 0900 hours, the Command’s Quick Response Team, in a joint operation with Ikeduru Police Division, arrested one Chukwumankpa Henry ‘m’ 32 years old. The suspect is a native of Iho in Ikeduru Local Council, but resident at Orji area, Owerri. He was arrested in his hideout at Ikeduru following an intelligence-driven operation.”