By Adesina Soyooye
A shocked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the Nigerian system as imperfect. He also described the Easter Monday attack on the Owerri, Imo State Correctional Centre and the Headquarters of the State Police Command as atrocious. He said that the release of jailed and detained criminals from Prison and Police cells was dangerous. And he urged the people of Imo State to resist the destabilization of their State.
Osinbajo on a visit to the State on Tuesday admonished Imolites, in particular, and the South East zone in general to resist attempts by hoodlums to thwart their peace and consequently stall progress and development in the area.
Heavily armed hoodlums, in their hundreds, using sophisticated weapons, including explosives, had invaded the HQs of the Imo Police Command and the Correctional centre in the early hours of Easter Monday, April 5, 2021. According to the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, they had also tried to invade the Government House, which is opposite the Police HQs, but were repelled by Security personnel.
During the attack, 1884 prisoners and scores of detainees were released from the Correctional Centre and the Imo Police Command, respectively. Several buildings and over 50 vehicles parked within the premises of the Police Command were razed. And so were many buildings at the Correctional Centre.
Professor Osinbajo spoke in Owerri, while reacting to the unprecedented attacks.
*It was also on a day the Vice President commissioned some roads – Dick Tiger Road and Dick Tiger Street – abandoned for 28 years, but which Governor Hope Uzodimma recovered.*
After a tour of the two Federal Government institutions, the Vice President noted that “an attack on a critical institution of law enforcement such as the Police Station and Prison is an attack on security and well being of citizens”, and described such act as “atrocious and condemnable.”
His words: “When you attack institutions of law and order it is evidence it is not an attack on justice as usual. It is an attack on the welfare and well being of the people, especially when you free prisoners, some of who may be dangerous to the community, dangerous to the people. It is particularly atrocious and condemnable. Government has already taken steps to enhance security here and in the Correctional Facilities and the State generally and that is a continuing process.”
He added: “Perhaps more than any other part of the country, this region has borne witness to the very terrible cost in life, liberty and progress that is exacted by conflict. It is a least beautiful lie that our country learned an enduring lesson in the futility of violence for there are those who believe that to resolve conflicts and issues other than by violence is cowardice.
“If the voice of their hatred prevails, we will experience a terrible and needless loss of lives that violence exerts.”
He acknowledged that the Nigerian system is not perfect, but insisted that “what democracy and institution of a democratic governance provide are channels for seeking peaceful resolution to conflicts and injury.”
The Vice President said there were many working tirelessly everyday to improve the system and called on Nigerians to reject agents of anarchy that seek to weaponize the frustrations and discontent of the youths for their own profits. He warned that the path of violence can only lead to destruction and desolation of communities.
Prof Osinbajo warned that peace should not be taken for granted, “because it was dangerous to learn the value of peace through the horrible crucible of war.”
He commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for the mature manner he handled the situation and assured Imo people and residents that the security of the state has since been further enhanced. “The search for the escaped inmates began in earnest even” just as he assured that the Federal Government stands with the State.
The Vice President used the opportunity to commission the Dick Tiger Road and the Dick Tiger Street in the Owerri Municipal which had been abandoned by successive Imo Governments for 28 years.
