– As Traders Count Losses, Accuse Gov Of Insensitivity
A cross section of Imo people have expressed disappointment that several weeks after bomb explosions wreaked havoc in two major markets in Orlu, resulting in loss of lives and property, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, has not deemed it necessary to visit the scenes to sympathize with the victims.
Some of the affected traders who spoke to our correspondent while counting their losses said, “it is unheard of that the Governor of the state who also hails from Orlu zone has been so insensitive to the plight of the traders and victims of the unfortunate incidents which have continued to impact negatively on the traders as a result of low patronage.”
They lamented that since the incident occured people are now afraid of coming to the markets because they don’t know what will happen next. This, they said, has reduced the volume of transactions with attendant multiple effects on the traders and members of their families who are at the receiving end of the entire scenario.
They expressed disappointment that the perpetrators of the heinous acts could operate freely and escape in a place like Orlu and wondered what would be the fate of people in the rural areas where there is minimal presence of security operatives.
“It is unfortunate that the Governor has not only abandoned his duties as the Governor of Imo State and has been gallivanting from Owerri to Abuja and vice versa in chartered flights that have continued to gulp the resources of the state, instead of focusing on how to address the myriad of problems confronting the state including incessant bomb blasts, kidnapping, organ harvesting and other security challenges that have projected the state and her people in very bad light.
The Governor should be told by those close to him that his primary assignment is to ensure the security of lives and property in addition to being a functional, sensitive and caring father figure who should be passionately concerned about the plight of the citizens.
But regrettably, his failure to visit the scenes of the bomb blasts severak weeks after have actually shown that he lacks the qualities expected of the occupant of the exalted position he is occupying”.
Recall that the explosion which rocked the Orlu International market and the popular Ogbo Ji at Okporo also in Orlu LGA, caused stampede and confusion as people ran helter- skelter for safety, and in the process, many sustained severe injuries.
A source who claimed to be at the scene said they were at the market doing the day’s business when they suddenly heard the sound of an explosion that caused panic and pandemonium leading to a stampede that resulted in several casulities.
A source who also pleaded anonymity also said that “the carrier of the bomb who pretended as if he came to seek the services of a shoe mender was discussing with him when the bomb which was an Improvised Electronic Device IED, suddenly exploded, killing the bearer, the person he purportedly came to patronize and some others who fell down in the process of escaping from the vicinity.
In a related development the popular Ogbo Ji at Okporo, Orlu also recorded an explosion the same day, as if the attacks were programmed by the same syndicate.
However, in the case of the incident at Okporo, an eye witness said, the perpetrator of the dastardly act came with motor cyclist who presumably, did not know his deadly intention. On their way, a few meters to the market, the explosive which may have been programmed to explode later in a place where more people were gathered suddenly exploded. The innocent cyclist and the man who came to plant the bomb died instantly, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries, and were rushed to the hospital where they are responding to treatment.
