Contrary to claims by officials of the Imo state government and their agents that insecurity and attendant factors have been nipped in the bud in the state, there are reports that hoodlums stormed the Orsu local government area headquarters at Awo-Idemili and set it ablaze over the weekend.
It was gathered that the yet to be identified hoodlums stormed the area in the early hours of Sunday and set he facility on fire, and razed down the chairman’s office, administrative block, and vehicles parked in the premises among other facilities.
Some residents of the area who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity expressed dismay that despite repeated assurances by the state government that Imolites should go about their lawful businesses without fear of attack molestation, communities in Orsu, Orlu, Oru West and Oru East local government areas have remained theatres of war where innocent youths, men and women are slaughtered like fowls in cold blood.
“The most annoying and irritating aspect is that after our people might have been killed our houses and other properties burnt, our youths are also arrested by the security operatives and labeled IPOB and ESN members with a view to extorting money from their distraught, traumatized and helpless parents and relatives who have not recovered from the severe loses occasioned by governments inability to stem the tide of insecurity in the areas.”
They regretted that, “some victims of the recent onslaught are those who initially fled from their communities as a result of fear and uncertainly but later returned because of assurances by the state government that all is now well when the situation appears to be worse and more aggravated.”
When contacted for comment on the recent development, Police Spokesman, CSP Mike Abattam, said, he was yet to be briefed about it and promised to comfirm from the DPO in Orsu.
Our correspondent reported that the country home of the lawmaker for Orsu state constituency in the state house of assembly, Ekene Nnodimele was burnt last year by hoodlums. The house of the state Attorney General and commissioner for Finance, Cyprian Akalisa who hails from the L.G.A was also burnt last year alongside the house of a former legislative leader of Orsu L.G.A .
Last Friday, the country home of Ford Ozumba, the state commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity was also razed down while members of the family were in Owerri the state capital. Hence nothing was recovered from the burnt house.
A cross section of Imo people across political divide who commented on the unfortunate development berated the Imo state government for its inability to holistically address the menace which has not only dealt debilitating blows on the people who have not only incurred unquantifiable human and material losses but has also rubbished and projected the state negatively, thereby scaring away the much need investors the state government promised at inception to attract.
