Mbaise was invaded by armed men suspected to be security operatives on Saturday
The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to probe the invasion of five communities in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State by law enforcement agents.
The lower chamber demanded the identities of perpetrators, the reason for the invasion and the number of lives and property destroyed as well as the offences committed by the communities.
This followed the adoption of an urgent motion of public importance by Emeka Chinedu (PDP-Imo), who represents Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency, on the floor of the house.
The motion listed the five communities as Ihitteafoukwu, Umuokirika, Oparanadim, Mpam, and Ogbor Umeze.
According to Mr. Chinedu, the invasion commenced in the early hours of February 12, by armed men suspected to be law enforcement agents.
He said the action was contrary to the responsibility of law enforcement agencies “which is to maintain law and order and not embark on actions inimical to fundamental human rights of citizens.’’
He decried that Nigerians were tired of the high-handedness, unethical conduct and total disregard for rule of law and engagements of law enforcement agents.
Mr Chinedu said there was an inherent danger in the one-sided narrative as often packaged by law enforcement agents in such circumstances without thorough investigation “and this is unhealthy for democracy’’.
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The house queried why communities that were not at war must be razed without taking into consideration the adverse effects of rendering the innocent homeless and depriving their loved ones of their breadwinners.
There was pandemonium as security operatives invaded the communities in the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area on Saturday.
On arriving in the communities, the security operatives, who reportedly came in seven vehicles, headed for the homes of some alleged members of the eastern Security Network (ESN) and set them ablaze.
A statement by an indigene of the area, Emeka Obasi, condemned the manner in which the operation was carried out.
The statement read in part, “In the early hours of Saturday, February 12, 2022, Umuonyeoka, a quiet and peaceful community in Ihitteafoukwu town was ruffled with a seemingly Gestapo style of invasion by armed men suspected to be law enforcement agents, who came in seven cars, shooting indiscriminately and headed for the compound of the Madus.
“It was alleged that they came to apprehend one Mr Uche Madu, who is alleged to be a member of the ESN group, but when they couldn’t get him, hell was let loose and they descended on the country home of his siblings, Sonyval and Chinonso Madu, which they set ablaze, without allowing even a pin to be evacuated from the buildings.
“While I do not condone any indigene of Ihitteafoukwu land to be involved in any unlawful act or criminal activities, it is still pertinent to state that the invasion and arson perpetrated in our land is highly condemnable and ill-advised.
“In an era where security matters and investigation are handled and unravelled by intelligence gathering, the resort to arson by supposed law enforcement agents can best be described as an affront and highly unlawful.
“In recent times, Imo State has continued to make screaming headlines in both the local and international media for the wrong reasons. It is, therefore, incumbent on the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is also the chief security officer of the state, to rise up to the challenge and ensure that such incidents like the Ihitteafoukwu invasion that exposed the security volatility of the state is nipped in the bud.
“Ihitteafoukwu remains a peaceful town and its indigenes have always been known for their patriotism and law-abiding nature.
“I, therefore, call on the state government to, without delay, unravel those behind the Saturday invasion of Ihitteafoukwu land with a view to bringing them to justice as well as forestalling a future recurrence of this unlawful act.”
(NAN)