The leaders of Orogwe in Umunwoha autonomous community in Owerri West LGA, of Imo State have commiserated with the Northern Community over the murder of seven Northerners living in their area by gunmen.
Addressing the leaders of Northern Community at the Palace of Sarikin Hausa, Ama Hausa, along Douglas Road Owerri during a condolence visit held on Saturday, the Orogwe leaders expressed regret and sympathy over the unfortunate incident.
The six-man delegation made up of Chukwuma Ononiwu, Chidi Arindume, Cliff Ahuaka, John Ejiogu among others led by Oguchinalu Ken Charles on behalf of the traditional ruler of Orogwe Umunwoha autonomous community, HRH Eze Emma Ejiogu, appealed to the Northerners to take heart.
Oguchinalu stated that the people of Orogwe community have also been devastated by the mayhem, adding that the situation has resulted to the people deserting their homes since the incident occurred.
Describing the incident as a taboo in their area, Oguchialu said that the people of the community woke up in the morning to hear about the unfortunate incident without actually knowing how it happened and where the perpetrators came from.
The Palace Secretary recalled that the community for some years has had a peaceful co-existence with the Northerners without any problem whatever.
The leader of the delegation said that immediately after the incident, effort was made to visit the Palace to see the Northern leaders after they had visited the house they were living but discovered that they have deserted the place.
He informed that the people of Orogwe and Umunwoha community are not violent by nature and abhor anything that could disrupt peace in the community.
Welcoming the delegations from Orogwe/ Umunwoha autonomous community, the Sarikin Hausawa and leader of Northern Community in Imo State, Alhaji Auwal Baba Suliaman expressed his appreciation over the condolence visit by the Orogwe, Umunwoha community.
He described the killings as either political or set ups which according to him is far from either religious or tribal, adding that the incident is such that touches everybody.
While urging the members of the community to be security conscious, he regretted the spate of insecurity in the country.
The traditional ruler maintained that Nigeria is one indivisible entity, adding that what affects a Northerner also affects any other person from other parts of the country.
The Sarikin recalled that before now the country has not experienced the kind of insecurity being witnessed today.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Gender, Vulnerable and Northern Affairs (Men), Hon. Suliaman Ibrahim Suliaman thanked the delegation from Orogwe Community for demonstration of maturity and humility especially in the time of mourning.
While advising the community leaders to be vigilant in their domain, Hon. Suliaman recalled effort by Governor Hope Uzodimma to tackle insecurity in the state.
He appealed to them to assist the governor to achieve this enormous task by being alert and conscious of what happened in their environment to ensure peace and healthy living.
The chairman, Niger Republic Citizens Imo State, Alhaju Ibrahim Dangali, the leader of Niger Republic in Imo State Alhaji Haruna Abdulahi, and the National Chairman, Northern Friends Neighbourhood Ahmed Saidu condemned the murder as barbaric and inhuman and enjoined the security agencies to do everything humanly possible to bring the perpetrators to book.
They commended the state governor, Sen. Uzodimma for his sustained effort to protect lives and property in the state and enjoined members of Northern communities in the state to continue to live in peace with their host communities and to refrain from act capable of breaching peace and security in the state.
They also expressed gratitude to the leader of the delegation for their sympathy and concern and assured that they would continue to enjoy mutual peace and tolerance between the Northern communities and his subjects.
