By TINA TIMOTHY

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has accused the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, of keeping mum and allowing his subjects to be massacred, their communities raided and their homes destroyed without taking any action, claiming that under his watch, 800 persons have been killed, 80 communities raided and 900 homes either burnt or destroyed in 20months.

Intersociety, in a statement in Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, signed by its principal officers; Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair; Chinwe Umeche, Head, Democracy and Good Governance; Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and Chidimma Udegbunam, Head, Campaign and Publicity, lamented that, among other states in South East, Imo ‘had borne the brunt’ of the devastation from October 2020 to June, 2022 and over half of all the killings and property destructions within the period under review.

Part of the statement reads: “Imo State had borne the brunt of the above referenced shocking statistics in the past 20 months or October 2020 to June 2022. In the past 18 days of July 2022, the state security actor killings and burnings in the State, targeted at members of the defenseless civilian population have continued unabated – with at least 40 more civilians killed and several civilian homes set ablaze or destroyed.

“In other words, Imo State took over half of all the killings and property destructions in the past 20 months and 18 days or October 2020-18th July 2022. The State under Gov Hope Uzodinma had accounted for at least 840 civilian deaths in 20 months and 18 days if the last 18 days of July 2022 are added.

“Imo State also accounted for at least 80 communal invasions perpetrated mostly by soldiers of the Nigerian Military and their allied Ebubeagu Government Militia. The military attacks and invasion of the not less than 80 civilian communities in the State also led to burning or destruction of not less than 900 civilian homes mostly located in Oru East, Oru West, Njaba, Mbaitoli, Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta, Okigwe, Ideato North, Orlu, Mbaise, Owerri metropolis and so on.

“Over half of the rural defenseless civilians, forced out of their ancestral homes and rendered homeless are also from Imo State as well as total properties lost. The second worst hit State is Rivers (Obigbo Army war-grade attacks of Oct-Nov 2020).

“Ebonyi State, presently engulfed in the state actor sponsored inter communal bloodsheds and property destructions and political rivalries is the third worst hit State, followed by Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Cross River. Delta State recorded the lowest statistics so far.”

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