IMO YOUTH KILLING: PROTESTERS BLOCK ONITSHA-OWERRI ROAD, DEMAND JUSTICE
REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
The people of Oru East and West Local Government Areas of Imo State have staged a protest over the alleged killing of more than ten youths from the area on Sunday by persons suspected to be members of “Ebebuagu” security outfit set up by the state government.
The protesters blocked the Onitsha-Owerri dual carriage road for hours calling on the state government to put an end to incessant killings and harassments of youths of the two local government areas by what they described as trigger-happy security outfit.
Some of the protesters told journalists that men of Ebubeagu security ran into the youths of Otulu Community, who were returning from a marriage ceremony of their brother at Awo-Omamma, a nearby community on a motorcycle convoy and opened fire on them thereby killing many and injuring others.
“My name is Chibueze Amanfo, both Oru East and West we are here gathered, we are not happy with what is happening in our land we have been trying to deal with it but at this juncture we can’t endure it anymore.
“Day before yesterday a lot of youths were killed about fourteen of them that went for a traditional marriage. Our brother here was one of them, some of them were hit by stray bullet.
“I know one of them who was buried yesterday. You can see the youths are not happy they are calling on the government to intervene because this is beyond us,” he lamented.
However, the State Governor, Chief Hope Uzodimma, had told journalists in Owerri that the operation was carried out by a conventional security agency, noting that interim reports indicated that the victims were bandits terrorizing the area.
“We just came out from security council meeting where the DSS confirmed they did the operation and the operation had nothing to do with any wedding place.
“They went to a camp and they went to the camp with a pointer, who is a member of the gang and they caught some people and the people are currently with the DSS.
“Yes they killed some people, those were also bandits but we are waiting for detailed report; this was interim report given to us at the security council, so I don’t want you to be carried away by propaganda of those who are behind banditry in the state,” the Governor stated.
The Governor said he would not be deterred by efforts of the enemies of the state, who engaged in blackmail, noting that the relative peace enjoyed in the state was as result of the determination of the government to stamp out criminality.
Remains of victims of the attack were seen in viral videos as youths from the areas recovered the bodies hours after the incident thereby raising questions on who actually carried out the operation.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
