Uzodinma Directs Monarch, Police To Mop Up Illegal Arms In Imo

Posted by Ignatius Okpara African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, June 4th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – As part of concerted efforts to address the present security challenges in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodinma, has directed traditional rulers and the police to as a matter of urgency mop up arms in the hands of unauthorised individuals.

He said the monarchs and the police are also expected to work in tandem with the Interim Management Committee Chairmen and Town Union Presidents across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State for the exercise.

The governor’s directives was contained in a press statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary/ Media Adviser Oguwike Nwachuku, and made available to African Examiner on Thursday.

According to the statement: At a meeting Governor Uzodinma had with the traditional rulers and Council Chairmen at the Imo State Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri, Thursday, he said “there is the compelling need to strengthen the security situation at the rural areas, hence the essence of the meeting.

“The governor said Government had discovered that the recent security-related developments in Imo demands that security be beefed up at the rural areas “as a way of reducing the vulnerability of our people in the hands of hoodlums.”

He regretted that report as indicated that most of those who carried out the hatchet jobs in the communities around the state are from the locality, hence the need for the traditional rulers and IMC Chairmen and others at the Local Government and Autonomous Communities to put heads together to stop the menace.

“Governor Uzodimma therefore proceeded to mandate them to ensure that no arm or weapon is found in the hands of people not authorised to hold such.

“The Governor said: “Any incident again that is blamed on complacency, the IMCs and the Traditional Rulers will be held responsible.”

He further directed the Traditional rulers to warn their subjects who have turned themselves into willing tools in the hands of the devils to traumatize Imo people to desist forthwith or have themselves to blame as “government is about to implement the Security Organization Law recently signed to come into full operation.”

“He emphasized that the implementation will be in an indigenous manner that reflects, “Bottom-Top- Approach”.

The Governor noted that the implementation will take the form of a “Security Council” existing in the locality with the Traditional rulers as the Chairmen and members to include President General of Town Unions, Youth Leaders, Woman Leaders and others.

He explained that the functions of the Security Council will among others include: fishing out the criminals in the communities and collating intelligence for security agencies to work with.

The statement added: “it was an opportunity Governor Uzodimma used to send out a warning to detractors and those threatening to make Imo state ungovernable that he will never fold his arms and allow them succeed.

Responding, the Chairman, Traditional Institution and Community Policing, Imo State, HRH Eze Emmanuel Okeke of Amaifeke in Orlu LGA thanked the Governor for inviting them to the briefing on security matters in the State, promising that the Traditional Rulers will work with the government to secure Imo State.

Adding his voice, Chairman, of Association of Local government of Nigeria ALGON Chairman and IMC Chairman of Oru-West Local Government Area of Imo State, Chief Willy Okolieogwo, on behalf of his colleagues expressed his happiness on the invitation of the Governor to discuss the most disturbing issue in the State currently.

He pledged their total support to the efforts and processes embarked upon by the Governor and Government of Imo State to fight insecurity in Imo.