EKE UTUTU ATTACK: EXPLOSIVES ARE PRODUCED IN THE MARKET—GOV UZODIMMA

REPORTER: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State says his administration will stop at nothing in its efforts to rid the state of banditry and other forms of criminality.

Briefing journalists at government house Owerri on the recent attack at “Eke ututu” Market in Orsu Local Government Area of the state, Governor Uzodimma explained that security personnel had intelligence that explosives were being manufactured at some shops located in the market.

According to the Governor, a joint team of security operatives led by a Captain in the Nigerian Army on getting to the market to dislodge the criminals, met resistance by the bandits, which led to the killing of a security agent and the captain critically injured.

He said items used in manufacturing local explosives were recovered from the shops within the popular market during the operation, which informed the burning of the shops in line with the policy of the government.

Governor Uzodimma while expressing regrets about the burning of the market and other collateral damage associated with the attack, cautioned against playing politics with insecurity in the state.

He lamented loss of lives to insecurity in the state and added that the government would where necessary compensate traders who genuinely suffered damages as well as rebuild the market.

A joint team of security personnel last Saturday launched an operation at the Eke Ututu Market, setting the place ablaze, an action that has attracted criticisms from some prominent citizens of the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU