There is a back-and-forth between the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and the lawyer to the leader of IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor over who is responsible for attack on Orsu-Ihiteukwa community in Orsu Local Government Area.
IPOB released a set of gory videos and pictures of the attack allegedly carried out by members of the Ebubeagu security outfit in Imo State and blamed it on Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Ejiofor made the allegation in a statement titled, “Black weekend in Orsu-Ihiteukwa, Orsu LGA of Imo State.”
The body accused the Governor of ordering the security operatives to carry out the incident which included attacks on buildings, killing of citizens and burning of houses and shops.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachukwu, washed the hands of government off the incident, saying people make allegations against Uxodinma for the fun of it.
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“People can allege anything against the governor because it gives them joy to do so.Governor Uzodimma has never and will never instruct security operatives or anybody for that matter to kill innocent people,” Nwachukwu said.
He added, “Please, get in touch with security agencies because the concern you have raised bothers on security.
“However, let me say it is unfortunate that we often ignore the operational rule of the engagement that exists within the security agencies, with their different hierarchies taking responsibility for their actions; but it’s not fair to resort to mischievous finger-pointing at Governor Uzodimma.”
But the lawyer said the formerly peaceful community was last weekend, invaded by the combined team of Ebubeagu and the Nigerian Army.
“It is heart-rending that at this period of economic downturn, the only available daily market in the community, where the downtrodden go to for communal trade in search of their daily bread, was completely razed to the ground, and homes burnt by these evil monsters acting on behalf of the state government.
“Indigenes of the community were thrown into this unexpected horror, and out of fear, they fled from their homes. Right now, Orsu-Ihiteukwa is a ghost town.
“We ask the governor if there could there be any justification, whatsoever, under any known law in Nigeria, as well as the international jurisprudence, that sanctioned this oppressive, barbaric, wicked, soulless and evil destruction of the lives and property of his people that he swore to protect.
“We, therefore, call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all those involved in these inhuman, wicked, and barbaric acts.”