Imo State government has accused a former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as those sponsoring terrorism in the state.
The State government said many of the suspects that have been arrested by security operatives and currently in detention gave the names of the two men as those sponsoring them.
A press release on Tuesday by the government signed by Oguwike Nwachuku, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Hope Uzodinma said the accused persons have been fueling insecurity, particularly kidnapping, banditry, arson and cannibalism in Imo State.
The statement added that the duo of Okorocha and Nwosu have been spreading lies and other false narratives in an attempt to discredit the state government and undermine the peace in Imo state.
It also debunked reports that the Chief Security Officer of the Governor or any other person on the security team have been arrested or unaccounted for.
Nwachukwu ended by promising the people of Imo that the administration of Governor Uzodinma will continue to do everything possible to guarantee the wellbeing of the people regardless of what it takes.
The full statement reads: “A Plot by those believed to be fueling insecurity, particularly kidnapping, banditry, arson and cannibalism in Imo State ahead of January 4, 2022 Imo Stakeholders meeting got to a head on Monday with false news of the alleged arrest of the security officers attached to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Governor Uzodimma, it is believed, will use the stakeholders meeting to expose the identities of those behind insecurity and other forms of criminality in Imo State. This has prompted Imo citizens to become more curious to discover the identities of those undermining their peace and prosperity. Thus, the current media frenzy by both Rochas Okorocha and Uche Nwosu appears to be strengthening the notion of their culpability.
To discredit the government and undermine the peace which the Governor has achieved so far, as was evident in the large number of Imo people who came back home from around the world for Christmas and New Year festivities, the duo have resorted to publishing falsehood yet again about security officers in the State Government House.
Their claim of the arrest and detention of a certain Shaba, whom they falsely allege to be the CSO to the Imo State Governor is strange as the Governor’s CSO is not known by the name of Shaba both officially and otherwise. In addition, no security officer in the Governor’s security team was either arrested or is currently unaccounted for. As such, the entire story can best be described as a poorly scripted fabrication aimed at misleading the unsuspecting public.
For the avoidance of doubt, Okorocha and Nwosu have been specifically mentioned by suspects who are in the custody of security agents, as being sponsors of kidnapping and banditry in Imo State, using their relationship with former ex-militants to perpetrate the crimes.
Rather than clear their names, they appear bent on using both overt and covert means to blackmail the Police High Command, which legitimately arrested Uche Nwosu. They are also actively seeking to dent the image of the fine security officers attached to the Governor of Imo State.
The public must be informed that the entire report is false and a failed attempt to frustrate the Imo Stakeholders meeting taking place on Tuesday.
The mass of Imo People, who are undoubtedly peaceful and fun loving are enjoined to discountenance the serial falsehood that continue to be churned out by the embattled duo. The focus and direction of the Gov. Uzodimma led government, it must be emphasized, will continue to be about the wellbeing of the people of the State, no matter what it takes.”
