Police Blame IPOB For Imo Traditional Rulers’ Killing, Deny Knowledge Of Monarchs’ Meeting
The Police in Imo State have accused the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its assailant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), for the killing of two customary rulers at Nnenasa in Njaba Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
Likewise, the Police through an assertion endorsed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Mike Abattam, guaranteed they were not told about the gathering in order to give sufficient security.
This is in opposition to what an observer to the assault told the press.
Day by day Trust had revealed that two rulers were killed on Tuesday while they were having a gathering at the Njaba LGA.
A source, who went to the gathering, countered the police, saying the security office was enough educated.
He said the Police likewise sent a few men to the setting of the gathering to give security.
The source said that men of Operation Search and Flush were conveyed there with their group chief however left not exactly an hour into the gathering.
As indicated by the source, when the police were swayed to remain until the finish of the gathering, they said that they were called by their commandant.
He said: “The executive was even seen letting them know they can’t leave subsequent to consenting to give security to the occasion.
“They in the long run left. They said they were gathered by their authority. Concerning an hour after the fact, the criminals struck. Njaba is my LGA.”
The police in their assertion said, “On 19/10/2021 at around 3 pm, following data got that gangsters associated to be individuals with the banished IPOB/ESN individuals are assaulting the setting where the customary director of Njaba nearby government is holding a gathering for certain conventional rulers, the Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Hussaini psc, promptly, dispatched the order’s strategic groups containing the Special powers, Rapid Response Squad and Anti-grabbing Squad to the scene.
“On their landing in the scene, they were educated by the police watch groups watching the region, that the gangsters escaped into the hedge on locating them.
“At the scene, it was uncovered that the customary executive of Njaba neighborhood government, Hon Emeka Ihenacho, welcomed and was having a gathering with fifteen conventional leaders of Njaba people group without illuminating the police or other security offices.
“While the gathering was in progress, equipped outlaws suspected to be IPOB/ESN individuals came and began taking shots at them aimlessly after which they ran once again into the bramble.
“Shockingly, two of the customary rulers in particular, HRH Eze S. C Osunwa of Ihebinowere Autonomous Community and HRH Eze Barr A. E Durueburuo of Okwudor Autonomous Community lost their lives in the assault while HRH Eze A. N Onyeka (JP) of Nkume Autonomous Community supported discharge injury.
“It is on record that the police headquarters in Njaba was as of late assaulted and raised somewhere around hooligans suspected to be IPOB/ESN fear gatherings, where two cops lost their lives.
“Consequently, the order needed to present Policemen on the space on vehicular watches to help in checkmating violations and culpabilities forthcoming when another police headquarters will be revamped.”