Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State Saturday, assured the families of two policemen who were killed in Aba by unknown assailants on Friday that security agencies in the state will fish out the perpetrators and commiserated with them over the loss.
The two policemen are Inspector Augustine Ogbudu (36 years) from Cross River State and Superintendent of Police, Eziekel Sunday from Kebbi State, while Inspector Odochi Adiele and one other police officer were wounded and receiving treatment in different hospitals in Aba. A 14-year-old teenager also lost his life during the attack while he was fleeing from the scene and was killed by a vehicle.
There was pandemonium that Friday evening about 6 pm following the incident that happened at Opobo Junction Ogborhill Aba.
Speaking to newsmen during the visit to the families of the victims and hospitals where the wounded are receiving treatment, governor Otti described it as unfortunate, and vowed that his government would fish out the perpetrators, regretting that the attack was coming few weeks after a similar incident that involved fivesoldiers and assured that there would be a change in strategy to deal with it.
“We thought that with all what we have done including rounding up some of the people that were involved in that last attack that this would not happen again. We have decided to change strategy. We do not want to speculate but like you (journalist) rightly asked, it is reasonable to suspect that the enemies of the state, particularly those who don’t seem to see anything good or want any good thing for Abia people may be somehow connected to this. That is a suspicion. We are not going to let this go away without identifying and bringing to book all those who are directly or remotely involved.” Otti added.
The governor said he believes that by the time investigations are over and all the intelligence that are being gathered are put together, government would know actually where the attacks are coming from and emphasised that his government would not succumb to the blackmail.
“We believe that something is wrong and our government is not going to succumb to this kind of blackmail and we are going to fish them out wherever they run to.
“It is still early days, but like I said, we have started picking up some of the people that were suspected to be involved in the last attack on soldiers and this one, we are not going to allow it to die. We are going to follow it through” Dr. Otti stressed.
Otti, who came with the state Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, reassured the security agencies that the state government is behind them, reassuring further the people of the state that his administration is equal to the task and urged them to go about their lawful businesses, adding that the security agencies are intensifying efforts to ensure people in the state are secured.
“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, and we don’t want people to be discouraged. We are equal to the task”.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, says, the attacks on security agencies in the state is a plot to make the state ungovernable and condemned the attack on the policemen.
In a statement by their President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, the youths said, “It is very unfortunate and heartbreaking that some persons under whatever guise will allow themselves to be used to kill their follow human beings without any reason whatsoever. This killing is barbaric, villainous, wicked, senseless and we condemn it in it’s entirety.
“The sponsors, promoters and actors of these killings and attacks on security agents in Abia State is a well calculated attempt by these anti-democratic forces to make Abia Ungovernable but their plans is dead on arrival”.
“We urge the governor to expertise action on installation of CCTV cameras in the state in order to help our security agencies and agents gather intelligence and do their jobs of providing security efficiently, and the good people of Abia State to work with the state governor and security agencies by providing useful information to ensure that Abia State is secured from criminal elements”.
The wife of late Inspector Ogbudu, Olachi, the father in-law, Mr. Ulanka and his 4 children as well as a cousin of late Superintendent of Police, Sunday were on hand to receive the governor who announced scholarship to the deceased children and further assistance to their wives.
It was noted that the civilian 14 year old victim was the only child of the parents.
The Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie and the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO could not be reached for their comments.
