Imo dissolves traditional rulers council, orders inauguration of town union leaders

Police arrest five for alleged robbery, cultism, possession of firearms

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has dissolved the state Traditional Rulers Council led by Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri (Obi of Orodo) in Mbaitoli Council Area.

Uzodinma, who announced the dissolution while addressing the monarchs yesterday in Owerri, explained that the decision was taken because their tenure had expired.

He noted that a new council would be reconstituted after the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure peace, harmony and good governance in the state.

The governor charged the monarchs to abide by the directives on implementation of a new security architecture that would guarantee the security of lives and property through the reitalised community policing committee.

He explained that the committee had also been inaugurated at local councils and autonomous community levels, urging the monarchs in the 647 autonomous communities to support Federal Government’s initiative and replicate it at the grassroots level.

Governor Uzodinma urged the monarchs to use the opportunity to tackle crimes in their communities through the operators to achieve the set objectives in collaboration with the Nigeria Police.

He charged the monarchs to ensure that those appointed to the committees were people of impeccable character capable of eliminating rape, banditry, burglary, armed robbery and kidnapping, among others.

Uzodinma also told the traditional rulers to be actively involved in the selection and appointment of presidents-general and executive members of their community town unions by regularly consulting with genuine leaders and stakeholders.

He tasked them to ensure the welfare of the people and service delivery as custodians of culture, adding that the Community Government Council (CGC) Law enacted by former Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration was repealed for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Deputy Governor, Professor Placid Njoku, Speaker, state House of Assembly, Dr. Chiji Collins, members of the State Executive Council (SEC) and all monarchs in the three senatorial zones of the state attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, operatives of the Imo Police Command on a stop-and-search duty had arrested five persons for alleged armed robbery, cultism and illegal possession of firearms.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Orlando Godson Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), who confirmed this yesterday, identified the suspects as Ibe Uchenna 26, Chikwado Allessio Onuoha 23, Johnson Ezekiel Chigozie 24, Chijioke Onyeahialam 25, and Johnbosco Ihekoronye 27.

He said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects, who were caught with locally made pistols, belong to an armed robbery syndicate that operates in Amakohia, Akwakuma, Egbeada, Ubommiri and environs, adding that they would be prosecuted accordingly.