TheCable

Athan Achonu, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Imo, has condemned the killing of security operatives by suspected gunmen in the state.

On Tuesday morning, gunmen killed some security operatives and burnt their patrol vehicles in Oriagu, Ehime-Mbano LGA of Imo state.

The security operatives were said to have been on patrol along Aba-branch Oriagu in Ehime-Mbano road when the gunmen ambushed them and killed over six joint task force officers.

Achonu in a statement described the killing as “reprehensible, highly condemnable and unacceptable”.

“I received with shock the news of the despicable murder of security operatives in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State today,” the statement reads.

“That unconscionable murder of innocent security operatives in the line of duty is reprehensible, highly condemnable and unacceptable in a modern society like ours.

“The latest onslaught in the recurrent sparks of violence is more condemnable because it happened in my own constituency.

“I hope the state government has not run short of ideas on how to secure the lives and property of the people, which is its primary assignment.

“It is inexplicable that Imo State has become a war theatre and epicentre of violence and bloodbath in the entire South-east.

“I also call on the Federal Government to rejig the entire security apparatus in Imo State because Ndi Imo shall no longer accept this horrific wastage of lives and property.

“While I condole the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police Force and the entire security network and families of the fallen heroes, I also plead with the people shedding innocent blood to desist.

“I also charge Ndi Imo not to surrender to the blackmail of the enemy of the people but to remain resolute in their desire to enthrone light over darkness.”