Following ugly incidents that occurred on August 7, 2016 where hoodlums caused mayhem in Etekwuru, an agrarian community in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, the State’s Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, on Wednesday visited the scene of the incidents.
Speaking to the people of Etekwuere, Madumere re-affirmed government’s preparedness to protect the lives and properties of the people of the state.
The Deputy Governor said he came on the mandate of Governor Rochas Okorocha to condole with the family that lost their child, those whose property were destroyed.
He also said he was on a fact finding to assess the extent of damage from the attacks of unknown hoodlums in the community and on how best to help the family and prevent such from recurring.
Addressing the affected families and the people of Etekwuru, Prince Madumere assured them that the government will do everything within its powers to bring the perpetrators of the wicked crime to book.
Madumere stated that government was working with security agencies to ensure there is safe and secure environment for all citizens through the deployment of police officers working in conjunction with other security agencies, including community security details, to ensure there is security of life and property.
He called on members of the community to live together in harmony and equally be their brothers’ keepers, while urging them to report any suspected criminal to the security agencies in the state.
In his address, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, assured the people of Etekwuru that those behind the dastardly act will be brought to book as he encouraged them to give useful information whenever they discover any suspicious movement around their area so as to proactively stop crime before they are perpetrated.
For the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Kingsley Uju, he called on the youth to embrace the programmes lined up for them for empowerment rather than take to crime, which he said can only bring about destruction.
Speaking earlier, the Transition Committee Chairman, Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area, Hon. Ebenezer Amadi, called on the government to beef the local government with more security agents to assist to protect lives and properties in the area.
In his own remark, the traditional ruler of Elekwuru autonomous community, Eze Slyvernus Okwuodu, thanked the government for coming to their assistance.
Okwuodu also called on the state government to provide more youth empowerment centres in the area to help reduce youth restiveness and also promote healthy co-existence of the people of the community.