Soldiers’ Death At Izombe: Gov Uzodimma Condoles Families, Vows To Arrest Culprits

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo has commiserated with families of two soldiers killed on Friday at Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of the state, vowing to unmask the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri on Monday said Governor Uzodinma was pained by the loss of lives and destruction of property.

He promised that government would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the immediate and remote causes of the crisis and make recommendations that would help check future occurrences.

According to the statement, the governor frowned at the situation where the youths confronted the military patrol sent to the area, burnt military vehicles, abducted and killed two soldiers, and made away with their rifles.

The statement said; “The recent happening has 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 security agencies.

“Regrettably, the time given for such has 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.”

Warning that it would no longer be pardonable for people or any group of people to take the laws into their hands, Governor Uzodinma said; “Government will go out to fully implement that directive and ensure that all bandits no matter are discovered and brought to book.”

He said banditry, violence, kidnapping, and other forms of crime and criminality had been on the increase since the jailbreak in Owerri that saw criminals return to the streets, noting that; “The evidence of their activities is manifested in what happened at Izombe Community where one of those who confronted the military was an escapee from Owerri Prisons.”

“Fortunately or otherwise, the hoodlum was killed by the soldiers in the confrontation,’’ the governor said, even as he assured families of the slain security operatives that the death of the soldiers would not go in vain.

Governor Uzodinma reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting security agencies in ensuring that peace returned to the state.

The two soldiers and a resident were killed in a squabble between youths collecting tolls from those involved in oil bunkering in the community.

The traditional ruler of Oborsi-Izombe, Eze Pius Muforo, had on Sunday lamented that more than 70 houses, 15 vehicles, and 25 motorcycles were razed and crops destroyed consequent upon a security raid in the area.