Abia State Government has reiterated it’s zero tolerance for criminal activities, especially those threatening the peace and progress achieved over the past 13 months under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu stated this, Monday, while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco meeting presided over by the Governor.
Kanu who cited the recent confrontation between security personnel and armed criminals in Aba earlier today, affirmed the state government’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.
He disclosed that the, criminal elements had earlier today, engaged security personnel at Umuode Tonimas Junction along the Port Harcourt Express Road, and later at Umuojima in Osisioma LGA where they had an exchange of gun fire with the military personnel.
Prince Kanu noted that the criminals were overwhelmed by superior firepower, resulting in one of them being neutralized, “while others escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds in one of their getaway vehicles, a Lexus SUV.
“Our vigilant and gallant security operatives are still on the trail of the fleeing criminals.
“We have it on credible intelligence that these criminal elements were on the prowl to cause mayhem in the state and our vigilant security operatives will not let them have their way.
“Let us reiterate the fact that this state government will not tolerate the activities of criminal elements. His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti has made that commitment and that commitment remains.
“The state government has zero tolerance for criminal activities, particularly those that may want to disturb the peace of the state and destroy the modest gains that this state government has made in the past 13 months”, Prince Kanu stated.
Prince Kanu therefore urged the public to remain vigilant and report activities of persons who appear shady to the nearest police station or security operatives
Also speaking, the the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd.) assured Abia residents of revised security strategies to deal with incidences of criminal activities across the state.
“Today’s incident is a testament to our enhanced security measures. There were no losses on the side of the security agents, and the fleeing criminals are being tracked. It is no longer business as usual,” he asserted.
