Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has vowed to apprehend perpetrators of convoy attack on the Commissioner for trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu.
Recall that the incident which occurred, Tuesday, on Faulks Road, leading into the market, resulted in the tragic killing of two policemen by unidentified gunmen and their guns taken away by their assailants before fleeing the scene.
Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, who was on an official assignment to Ariaria Market at the time of the incident luckily escaped unharmed.
Following the incident, a joint operation comprising military, police, and civil defense corps was launched to cordon off the crime scene and track down the criminal gang responsible.
However, there were reports of alleged mistreatment and harassment of innocent traders, passers-by, and residents during the security operation, leading to fear and apprehension in the area which resulted in traders staying away from their shops, and residents indoors to avoid any further disturbances.
During the visit, Governor Otti in company of
some security chiefs, including the Commissioner of Police, Kene Onwuemelie and the Commander of the 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, Ohafia, Brig Gen NJ Edet took a tour of the deserted neighbourhood.
The Governor who thereafter addressed the traders, vowed that the state government would stop at nothing to ensure that perpetrators were tracked down and brought to justice, stating that no criminal would be stronger than the government.
He reaffirmed the purpose of the security agencies’ presence, which he said was solely for their protection and urged the traders to remain calm and cooperate with the security personnel as they continued their search for the criminals responsible for the policemen’s deaths.
“It is unfortunate that some criminals attacked policemen here two days ago, and in response, there was a reprisal attack. Unfortunately, reprisal attacks as I have often said always end up with the wrong people because the criminals would probably have run away.
“We must track down the criminals.
“Having noticed that you closed your shops in fear, I have come to reassure you that you shouldn’t fear. Please open your shops.
“Any security man you see, whether police, army, DSS or civil defence, they have come to give you protection not to attack you. So, we will continue in the search for the criminals because we will not allow criminals to distract us.
“We have a lot of work that we’re doing already and no criminal would be stronger than government, we will track them down. We will also use this opportunity to warn anyone that wants to get involved in criminal activities. We’re going to deal with them, we will flush them out.
