ONE DIES, OTHERS INJURED AS SUSPENDED LG COUNCIL OFFICIALS AND INTERIM LGA EXCO CLASH IN IMO
A man identified as Ahamefula Amajuru has been shot dead and others injured in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State.
This followed a violent clash between the suspended local government council chairmen and councilors, and members of the interim management committee put in place by Governor Emeka Ihedioha to run the affairs of the councils.
In what looked like a drama on Monday morning, the suspended officials and their supporters stormed the twenty-seven local government council headquarters across the state to forcefully take over the third tier of government relying on a purported Supreme Court judgment on a matter involving suspended council officials in Ekiti State.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Imo State Command, Mr. Orlando Ikeokwu, said supporters of the ousted council officials elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) had open confrontation with those of the interim management committee appointed by the state government thereby resulting in crisis.
He explained that police had beefed security across the council headquarters to forestall violence and added that the command had commenced investigation to apprehend those responsible for the shooting.
Mr. Ikeokwu warned that the command would not allow any individual or group to take laws into their hands, noting that only the court had powers to execute its ruling.
The Local government Executive and Councilors were suspended by the out-gone Eight Assembly at the twilight of the last administration over alleged financial impropriety but had their suspension extended by Governor Emeka Ihedioha pending investigation into the allegations leveled by the State House of Assembly.
Correspondent Chinazo Ilechukwu reports that efforts by the suspended council officials to assume office in other local government headquarters were unsuccessful as security agencies were on ground to contain the situation.
CHINAZO ILECHUKWU