• Your statement is baleful, Ohanaeze tells ACF leaders
Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, yesterday, repelled attacks on two police stations in the state. The stations are Omuma Police Division, Oru East Local Council and Police Division, Umundugba in Isu Local Council.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the attackers arrived at the Umundugba station at about 3.30 p.m., scores in number, in Sienna buses, Avalon and eight motorcycles, engaging the police officers on duty in gun duel, throwing petrol bomb, but with luck on the side of the cops, they repelled them, quenching the fire.
He said that a similar incident occurred at Omuma, adding that no life was lost.
“On May 31, 2021 at about 3.30 p.m., some hoodlums in their numbers launched an attack on Police Division in Umundugba, Isu Local Council but were repelled by the policemen on duty.
“They stormed the station in three Sienna buses, one Avalon saloon car and about eight motorcycles. The hoodlums were engaged in a gun battle. During the duel, the hoodlums threw a couple of petrol bomb at the station, which fell at the exhibit room. The attackers were eventually suppressed and they made a retreat, having suffered huge defeat and a number of casualties on their side. The police, with the help of some members of the community, were able to put off the fire.
“A similar attempt was made by some hoodlums to attack Omuma Police Division but was equally repelled by the gallant policemen on duty. No life was lost in the two attacks and there were no casually on the part of the police. The two police stations were not burnt,” he said.
MEANWHILE, the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, chided the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for asking northerners to desist from travelling to the South-East zone over rising insecurity in the region.
Chairman of the ACF, Chief Audu Ogbeh, had asked the northerners to restrict their travelling to the South-East unless such journey was absolutely necessary, adding, however, that if they must travel to the zone, security escort must be sought by such travellers.
But in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze Ndigbo described Ogbeh’s statement as “baleful,” stressing that it was capable of rocking the already precarious boat.
The group said that though the once peaceful region is currently faced with insecurity, it should be isolated from the security challenges facing other parts of the country.
“It is worth repeating that the gruesome assassination of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak is very painful to all and has been condemned in very strong terms by Governor Hope Uzodimma, people of Imo State and indeed all the leaders of thought in Igboland, including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide,” the group said.
