Owerri Attack: Imo State Government, Recants, Asks Investigating Security Agencies Not To Focus On One Direction |The Source

By Gideon Njoku 

The Imo State Government has advised Security Agencies investigating the unprecedented security breach in Owerri to focus their investigations on all directions instead of one one direction.

This comes  on the heels of the allegations by the Police that the carnage in Owerri on Easter Monday was the handiwork of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB, and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN. Earlier, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, had also made same allegations, revealing that the hoodlums tried to invade the Government House, but were repelled by Security men.

But the Uzodinma Government seem to have backtracked a little, with its call on Security Agencies to beam their search light on all directions, instead of one direction. 

IPOB had denied a hand in the attack which shook the state and the Nation, but a couple of video messages on the attack by some individuals who hailed the attack say otherwise. 

Some schools of thought suggest the attack could be an inside job, reminiscent of the General Sani Abacha era, just to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. They allege it is a plan for the military to descend on the zone and embark on a killing spree and mass arrests of youths.

But addressing the Press after the State Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, urged “Security operatives in the state to expedite their investigation  into the recent attack on Police and Nigerian Correctional Services facilities by hoodlums to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and made to face justice.”

The Government, also,  called on the Security agencies to beam their searchlight on all possible suspects and avoid the temptation of focusing in only one direction to ensure that the brains behind the mayhem are fished out and prosecuted accordingly.

According to Emelumba,  the least the security agencies would do is to unmask the known and unknown agents of the mayhem.

He said Council condemned the attacks in strong terms and commended Governor  Uzodimma for his proactive steps in dealing with the situation which drew the attention and support of the Federal government.

Emelumba: “Council  directed the security agents to  expedite their investigation and make sure that no stone is left  unturned and to beam their searchlight  in all possible suspected area and not concentrate on only one area and ensure that those who perpetrated this dastardly act are fished out and brought to book as quickly as possible.”

Heavily armed hoodlums, in their hundreds had stormed the Owerri Correctional Centre where they released 1884 prisoners and razed buildings. They also stormed the Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, and released detainees in the Criminal Investigation Department, razed down buildings, and burnt at least 50 vehicles, including Police operational vehicles.

The action caused outrage and fear, attracting condemnations from both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemk Osinbajo. Osinbajo visited the State for an om the spot assessment. The incident, also, claimed its first high profile casualty. IGP Mohammed Adamu, was on an on the spot assessment of the carnage, on Tuesday, when he was sacked, and a new IGP,  Usman Alkali Baba appointed. 

 The Imo State Government is also setting up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry on the mayhem.