By Jennifer John
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has maintained his stand that insecurity in the state is politically-contrived.
The governor made this assertion at the state Police Headquarters, Owerri, Monday, shortly after being briefed by the state Commissioner of Police on the early morning attack at state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A joint security team had gunned down two of the suspected arsonists and captured two others alive.
He said INEC does not need such distraction, rather, it should be supported by all.
He queried why INEC should be the target of such an attack, stressing that it was in fulfilment of the threat made by some politicians to make the state ungorvernable so that no elections will hold in the state in 2023.
He however expressed confidence that the police and other security agents are prepared to make sure there is election in the state and country at large in 2023.
The governor urged Imolites to come out and collect their PVCs at different local government headquarters and other collection centres at the ward level.
He also assured Imolites that the security agents are ready to provide watertight security for the celebration of Christmas and New Year festivities.
Addressing the governor and newsmen on the incident, at the state Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Ahmed Barde, said the gunmen arrived at the state INEC headquarters along Port Harcourt Road and used explosive devices to set some parts of the building on fire.
“Our men at INEC office engaged them in gun duel, but because they were so many, some of them were throwing dynamites and petrol bombs into the INEC office. That was why it caught fire, but because of the firing of my men, they had to retreat and were not able to go with one of their vehicles. They left the Lexus Jeep there”.
The Police Commissioner said, as the hoodlums tried to escape, his men gave them a hot chase and in the process, neutralized three of them, recovered three AK-47 and three pump action rifles, four vehicles and some of the Improvised Explosive Devices.
He added that the operatives were also able to arrest two of the hoodlums alive, with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
Reacting while fielding questions from newsmen, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Prof Mrs Silvia Agu confirmed that the attack left enormous damage to the commission’s offices and equipment.
She however failed to confirm if some PVCs were destroyed or carted away, but made it clear that the PVCs were not kept in the headquarters.
She assured that the commission will go ahead with the planned distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), as according to her, the centres where the PVCs will be collected are at local government areas and not at the headquarters.
The REC said adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure success of the exercise.
