UMAHI CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON TWO INEC OFFICES IN EBONYI, QUERIES COUNCIL CHAIRMEN & COMMISSIONER
Reporter : AMECHI ODO
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has condemned the burning of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s offices and incessant killings of security agents as well as attacks on police stations in some parts of the state.
He made the condemnation while receiving the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG incharge of Zone 9 Umuahia at Government House Abakaliki.
Governor Umahi alleged that the attack on INEC office in Ugbodo, the Headquarters of Ebonyi Local Government Area and another in Ebiaji, the Headquarters of Ezza North Local Government Area as well as previous attacks on police stations and personnel were the handiwork of disgruntled politicians who were inciting bandits to destabilize the state.
He noted that the attacks had gone beyond separatist agitation as politicians had played into the hands of restive youths who feel that the people of South East were not being accommodated in the Nigerian project.
The Governor called on the Police to look beyond separatist agitators in their quest to resolve incessant attacks on public offices and invite the suspected politicians for investigations.
The AIG, Mr. Ene Okon, expressed worry about the growing wave of separatist agitations and attacks on security agents and their offices.
He noted that the launch of Operation Restore Peace by the Inspector General was to rout those behind the act in the South East.
He announced that four mobile police units had been deployed to Ebonyi State for the special operation and appealed to the Governor for logistic support.
The AIG had earlier held a stakeholders meeting where he appealed to community leaders to interface with youths in their domain on the need to shun criminality and violence.
In a related development, the state Executive Council had at its weekly meeting directed that the Chairmen of Ebonyi and Ezza North Local Government Areas as well as the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters be queried for failing in their duties to protect the burnt INEC offices under their watch.