TheCable

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, says his administration will go after “all bandits” behind the killings and destruction of properties in the state. 

Udodinma said this on Monday while condemning the attack in Izombe community, Oguta LGA of the state.

TheCable had reported that two soldiers and a resident were killed and several houses set ablaze when security operatives clashed with youths suspected to be involved in oil bunkering.

“The recent happenings have brought to the fore the earlier state’s directive that anybody, no matter how highly placed, who is in possession of any weapon should return it to the security agencies,” Uzodinma said.

“Regrettably, the time given for such had elapsed. Therefore, anybody still keeping any weapon runs the risk of being arrested and prosecuted and made to face the full weight of the law.

“Government will go out to fully implement that directive and ensure that all bandits no matter where they are, are discovered and brought to book.”

Uzodinma said banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality have been on the rise after the jailbreak in Owerri, capital of the state.

He the government will do all within its power to support the security agencies to ensure that peace is returned to the state.

The governor said a panel of inquiry will be set up to ascertain the causes of the crises and make recommendations to prevent further occurrence.