As Owerri Loses Status As Entertainment Hub, Imo Monarchs To Invoke Curses On Perpetrators Of Insecurity |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

 “Owerri has lost its pride of place as the Entertainment hub of  the South-east and South-south. The Hotels are empty. And so are the Bars, and Lounges and Entertainment Centres. The once bubbling capital city has become a ghost city” 

Traditional rulers in Imo State say they will, together, invoke curses on perpetrators of violence in the state, as well as those who instigate it. In the good old days, such curses were a big deal.

In recent weeks, the once peaceful State has been enmeshed in an unprecedented violence. And the State’s once bubbling capital, Owerri, has become a ghost  city. The many hotels, bars, lounges and other entertainment centres are empty. And people are being advised to keep off.

Owerri has the highest concentration of Hotels in the South-east and South- south, and is the entertainment hub in the two Zones. It has lost that pride of place since the inexplicable outbreak of violence.

The unprecedented attack on the Imo Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, and the Correctional Centre, on Easter Monday, which resulted in the release of 1,844 Prisoners, 600 detainees, the razing and the torching of buildings and cars, have since given birth to the killing of several security personnels, and the torching of a number of Police Divisions and States.

The most daring was the attack on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodinma, during which a part of his home, and a number of cars, including his Rolls Royce, were torched. A security personnel of the Civil Defence was, also, killed during the ugly incident.

The Traditional Rulers made the threat to rain curses on the perpetrators  on the day they met at the Eze Imo Palace, and roundly condemned, in strong terms, the  attack on the Country home of the Governor in Omuma.

They called on security agencies to carry out a thorough investigations into what transpired at the Governor’s, and ensure that the culprits and their sponsors are brought to book.

In a communiqué at the end of their meeting which was well attended by the Chairman of the Traditional Institution and Chairman Imo State Community Policing, HRH. Eze Dr. Emmanuel Okeke, the monarchs were of the opinion that the attack was politically-motivated and, therefore, warned the politicians instigating the crisis to have a rethink or be ready to face the consequences.

The monarchs said as custodians of the culture and tradition of Imo State they are appealing to all that are involved in the wicked act to desist from it and if they refuse, “the traditional institution will consult the gods of the land and invoke curse on whoever that is involved.”

They acknowledged that the security situation in Imo State requires all hands on deck to secure the state so as to ensire that peace, progress and development thrive in Imo.

They commended the efforts of the security agencies attached to the Governor’s country home for repelling the attempted attacks and pledged their continued support to them  in their efforts to secure Imo State.

Any attack on the Governor, they said, is an attack on Ndieze, Imo people and Ndigbo in general.

The Imo Traditional Institution seized the opportunity to call on the youths to resist attempts to be used by politicians as willing tools for evil machinations, noting that every damage done to the property and businesses of Imo State would be replaced with monies that would have been channelled toother developmental projects in the state.

A number of arrests have been made in the State since the attacks.