POLICE DEBUNK BURNING OF TRUCK LOADED WITH ARMS IN ENUGU
REPORTER: CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Ahmed Ammani, says it is not true that a truck loaded with arms was intercepted in the state.
There was panic across the state on Thursday over rumours that a truck loaded with arms and people from a particular ethnic group were intercepted, arrested and set ablaze in the crisis-ridden Eha-Amufu Community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state.
A statement by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Daniel Ndukwe Ekea, said that the Police Commissioner visited the scene of the attack and burning of a truck and unspecified number of persons at Umuhu Village, along Eha-Amufu/Nkalagu Road, Eha-Amufu community for on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
The statement noted that preliminary Investigation indicated the truck was rather carrying goods and some travellers.
According to the statement, Mr. Ammani, who was in company of the 82 Division Garrison Commander of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Brig. Gen. M. K. Ibrahim, and other Senior Police/Military Officers as well as the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Mr. Obiora Obeagu, described the rumour as baseless, misleading and an act of disinformation capable of creating unnecessary panic and escalating the situation in the area.
The statement warned peddlers of such fake news to desist forthwith, as they would be made to face the full wrath of the law if apprehended.
It commiserated with the family of the deceased, promised to apprehend the criminals and improve security in the area.
“The Commissioner, while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives in the heinous criminal act and other reported attacks in the area, has made it clear that the Police, with the active support and collaboration of other security agencies, will leave no stone unturned in fishing out the assailants and perpetrators of other acts of attack and murder in the area.
“He reassures members of the Eha-Amufu community of the avowed commitment of the Security Agencies to deploy both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to decisively deal with the untoward security breaches in the area, while enjoining them remain law-abiding, cooperate with the Joint Security Team and avoid acting in ways that could further breach public security and peace in the area, the statement read.
Radio Nigeria also gathered that following the incident and other security concerns, the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi held a meeting with heads of all security agencies in the state.
The outcome of the meeting is not yet known.
