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Ebonyi State PPRO, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya
By CHARLES IWUOHA
Ebonyi communities have continued to boil as hoodlums set ablaze a police van at Ukwagba village and shot sporadically to scare citizens in a bid to enforce the seven days sit-at-home ordered by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Simon Ekpa.
It was gathered that the hoodlums who are bent on enforcing the sit-at-home in Ebonyi State, allegedly stormed the Ukwagba police checkpoint and told officers to vacate, that they were not looking for them. They, however, set ablaze their police van.
The hoodlums also stormed at Ishieke police checkpoint and shot sporadically, which according to reports, caused police officers in the area to run for their lives.
It was gathered that the hoodlums equally stormed at Ahiaohu market located along Abakaliki/Enugu Express road and allegedly shot into the air to scare people. Business owners in the market were reported to have fled, leaving their goods behind.
Confirming the incident, the chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Prince Odono Okechukwu, called on stakeholders of the council to show cooperation to enable him surmount all insecurity in the area.
Odono, who spoke to newsmen shortly after a security meeting at 135 Ezzamgbo, the Council Headquarters, condemned in totality the burning of the police van by hoodlums at Ukwagba village.
He vowed to explore every available means to apprehend the perpetrators and appealed to Traditional Rulers, Town Union Presidents and community vigilantes to establish a functional rapport to promote peace in their areas.
Responding, the Commissioner of Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi, Mr Jude Chikadibia Okpor expressed dismay over the apprehension in some parts of the state following reported activities of hoodlums and unscrupulous elements.
He said: “The government, therefore, wishes to advise the general public to go about their lawful businesses as security agents are on top of the situation.”
When contacted for a reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi State Command, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the command had stationed officers in many strategic places in the state to forestall any breakdown of laws and order.
