By Wisdom Nwedene, Abakaliki
Governor David Nweze Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, revealed the identities of hoodlums that attacked Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital on Monday afternoon.
Recall that hoodlums stormed Abakaliki on Monday, shooting sporadically before setting a Police Station located at Onuebonyi on fire.
In a Statewide broadcast monitored by 9news Nigeria , Umahi said the hoodlums that attacked Abakaliki are Ebonyians that came from a particular village and a Local Government in the name of IPOB.
According to the Governor, the hoodlums had abducted some policemen who were on peace mission in their community sometime last year even though the policemen were later released because of his ntervention.
He said : “On Tuesday, the 20th of October, 2020, those who invaded our state and destroyed our infrastructure came from outside. Yesterday, Monday, 26th October, 2020 those who came are Ebonyians from a particular village and a Local Government in the name of IPOB.”
“We know these people, we know their fathers. Same people that abducted some policemen who were on peace mission in their community sometime last year even though the policemen were later released by my intervention.”
” I have offered details here so that you know we know you very well and you are responsible for the killing and looting in your state using the cover of IPOB. I refuse to buy into this as a criminal is a criminal and criminality is criminality.”
“I, therefore, appreciate our security agencies for their maturity and listening ear to me yesterday not to retaliate. However, it is unconventional for people to invade a police station, burn the police station, kill the police people and take their guns.”
“It is uncommon for you to attack the army who were protecting you, strategic government assets too and yet they remain unprovoked. Security agencies in the state have asked me to please plead with you to stop attacking them and burning their stations.”
“Let me assure Ebonyians that more security agencies were deployed from outside the state last night and they have been deployed to protect you.”
“Social-economic activities in Ebonyi State must return now, go about your normal businesses in peace.”
“To our young children who are hiding under IPOB to kill us, we do not deserve it, our government has done their best to give you good governance, where we have failed as human beings, I here again offer my apologies with a firm offer and promise to make amends with your inputs.”
“Today, I plead with these young hoodlums killing us in the name of IPOB to withdraw peacefully to their houses. Security agencies must please give them peace to do so. They must be allowed free access to return to their communities.”
“I will compensate all families whose loved ones were either injured or killed during this unfortunate period, whether security agencies or civilians or even these hoodlums.”
