GOV. OTTI VISITS FAMILIES OF SLAINED AND WOUNDED POLICE OFFICERS; VOWS TO PUT AN END TO ATTACKS ON SECURITY AGENTS IN THE STATE.
The Executive Governor of Abia State Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has vowed to put an end to recent attacks on the security agencies in the state by yet-to-be-identified gunmen. Governor Otti made the vow on Saturday, June 29, during a visit to the families of two killed police officers in their various homes and two wounded officers in the hospitals where they are currently receiving treatment after being attacked in the evening of Friday, June 28th, at a security checkpoint around Opobo Junction, Obingwa Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Otti awarded scholarships up to University level to all the children of the two slained officers and assured them that Abia State Government would be supporting the families for their upkeep.
Addressing the press, Governor Otti said, “First of all, we want to commiserate with the families, the police authorities, the commissioner of police in the State, and then, of course, the Inspector General of police for this very sad thing that happened in the evening of yesterday”.
“This is a time to reassure the security agencies that the State is behind them. And, then also reassure Abia citizens that the State is equal to the task and we are not going to let this go away without identifying and bringing to book all those who are directly or remotely involved”.
“It’s very unfortunate. We felt after all we have done including rounding up some of the people that were involved in the last attack, this would not happen again. For it to happen so quickly, we have also met and we have decided to change strategy”.
Governor Otti urged the people not to panic but to go about their normal businesses, assuring them that the State would do everything to protect them.
“The people know that this government will not rest on its oars. And, everybody should go about their businesses. We don’t want people to panic, we don’t want people to get discouraged, we are equal to the task and this is a wake-up call”.
“Security agencies have also intensified all their efforts to ensure that this does not happen again”‘, Governor Otti reassured.
Asked whether he was suspecting the enemies of the State to be behind the attack, he said, “We do not want to speculate but like you rightly asked, it is reasonable to suspect that the enemies of the State, particularly those who don’t want to see any good or want any good for Abia people maybe somehow connected with this”.
“That’s a suspicion, but we believe by the time investigations are over and all the intelligence that are being gathered are put together, we will know exactly where this is coming from”.
“But like one former Head of State once said, for an insurrection to prevail over a government, then something is wrong. We believe that our government is not going to succumb to this kind of blackmail. And, we are going to fish them out wherever they run to”.
Governor Otti was accompanied on the visit by the State Commissioner of Police CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba PhD, the Mayor of Aba North, Ide John Udeagbala the Mayor of Aba South, Hon. Uche Nwaogu, SSA to the Governor on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe among other government officials.
Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
29-06-2024
