By Oginyi Ruth
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Wednesday ordered security agencies in the state to shoot-on-sight on anyone seen with illegal firearms before, during and after the 2019 general elections in the state.
The governor, who visited Agbaja community in Izzi local government area where political violence in the state has been at its peak and properties worth several billions of naira destroyed, ordered security agencies to remain ruthless until normalcy returns to the area.
At least two persons have been killed separate clashes with scores of persons injured and now receiving treatment at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki.
Most of the victims were alleged to be members of the All progressive congress in the state.
Addressing victims of the pre-election violence , the Governor ordered security agencies in the state to shoot any person caught terrorizing the state with illegal firearms.
Governor Umahi also directed security agencies to be ruthless to perpetrators of violence in the state.
He further said the state commissioner of Police should withdraw all illegal police attachment to any politician in the state, stressing that if the attack continues, he would order the youths to beat up any politician seen going about with security guards.
The Governor condemned the violence and urged the youths of the area to be more united to resist any attack and therefore charged them to deal mercilessly to anyone who terrorises the community.
Umahi blamed leaders of Izzi as being responsible for the violence in the community, warning also that if they don’t curb the incessant attacks in the area, he would turn and set the youths against them and their homes.
Read his words, “I am the Chief security officer of Ebonyi state. I want to order security agencies to shoot-at-sight any person bearing illegal firearms which he is using to attack Ebonyi people. I want the commissioner of Police to withdraw all illegal policemen attached to some politicians in the state.
“The leaders of Izzi clan are the ones causing the crisis. Youths of Izzi should unite and come together to protect their mothers, younger ones and themselves too.
“If you arrest any person with gun, break the person’s hands, legs and tie him to the police station. I want the security agencies to be ruthless to any person who attacks innocent and law-abiding citizens in the state.
“If this violence and attack continue, I will order the arrest of all the leaders of Izzi no matter the person or his relationship with the president.”
Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Ogbonnay Nweifuru, in his submission noted that the place is his constituency and accused some members of the Peoples Democractic Party playing anti party activities to be responsible for the attacks.
“Your Excellency, people say that I am stubborn and I want to agree that I am stubborn because I am performing. If I am not performing, nobody would have said I am stubborn.
“The crisis here was caused by PDP-APC. It was some members of PDP who are playing anti party activities are responsible for the attacks. The perpetrators are not real APC members”, the Speaker said.
