Uzodimma vowed that no amount of propaganda and blackmail will deter the Security agencies from doing their work.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that his government will not be deterred by what he called “propaganda and blackmail” in his quest to protect the lives and property of Imo citizens.
He spoke on Monday after the Imo State Security Council meeting with regard to the incident that took place at Awomamma on Monday that led to the death of some youths.
The youths were said to be on their way back from a traditional wedding from Awomamma in Oru East local government to Otulu community in Oru West local government area, when they were killed by the state’s internal security outfit, Ebubeagu.
On account of the anger trailing the development, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), on Tuesday, gave Uzodimma seven days to resign or face impeachment by the State House of Assembly. COSEYL, through the President General, Goodluck Ibem, stated this in Owerri, while reacting to the killings
However, in a statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, his chief press secretary and media adviser, Governor Uzodimma said the government had been briefed on the incident by the Director of State Services (DSS) in an interim report made available to members of the Security Council.
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The Governor added that the DSS Director confirmed that his men carried out an operation in a Camp at Awomamma with the assistance of their informant and not at a wedding place as claimed by the youths and that it was in the process that some bandits were neutralised.
He said while the Security Council awaits detailed report on the incident, it is important that the public are wary of those using the incident as propaganda tool to blackmail the security agencies and the government.
Governor Uzodimma also used the opportunity to describe as fallacy, the claim on the social media and section of the traditional media about a 15-year old girl allegedly impregnated in the DSS detention.
According to the Governor, security report indicated that two ladies were caught with bandits about six months ago and they have been helping the DSS in identifying and arresting other dangerous bandits in the State.
Uzodimma alleged that the 15-year-old lady was a girl friend to a key gang leader of the bandits terrorising the State but on the trail by DSS operatives.
The Governor said security report has shown that the fleeing gang leader had reached out to his sponsors who have resorted to using the 15-year-old lady in question to blackmail the DSS and divert attention.
Governor Uzodimma said: “You know I will never allow anything ungodly to happen in Imo State. Their target is to puncture the relative peace the Security agencies have helped us to achieve in Imo State and we are determined to sustain the peace.
“We won’t be deterred and no amount of propaganda and blackmail will deter the Security agencies from doing their work.”