… As Troops foil attempted kidnap of medical personnel in Imo***
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has announced the immediate suspension of all civil servants from the conflict-torn Effium community in Ohaukwu Local Government over the killings of five construction workers.
Umahi made the announcement on Tuesday in Abakaliki during a Security Summit organised by the state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and founding fathers of the state.
The governor alleged that the perpetrators of the dastardly acts in the area were funded from both within and outside the state.
“The coordinators of the two Local Government Development centers from the area are removed from office while salaries of permanent secretaries from the area have been suspended.
“I will approach the state House of Assembly on the way forward concerning the chairman of the council and the two assembly members from the area,” he said.
He said that the political office holders could not be receiving salaries and such would go into sponsoring killings and destruction of people’s property.
Umahi regretted the reported killing of five construction workers in the state’s ring road which passed through the area by unknown assailants.
“These workers who knew nothing about the conflict were on that site to help the state actualise the road project.
“The suspects arrested over the incident have confessed that the workers have been killed and buried and we sought to know the location of burial to pacify the victims’ families.
“The police team which visited the area for investigation were ambushed and two offlcers have been reported missing or killed,” he said.
Umahi urged stakeholders of the area to handle the situation within seven days as it has reached a stage that warrants the federal government’s decisive action.
“I can rid the hoodlums within 72 and the stakeholders should heed to the directive to prevent a different story on Effium community,” he said.
Leader of the state’s founding fathers forum and former Governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi thanked the governor for approving the summit as positive results had been yielded from such in the past.
The southeast Zonal Chairman of the CAN, Rev.Fr. Abraham Nwali, urged stakeholders to check the devastating effects of hard drugs on the youths which contributed to insecurity in the state.
The newsmen report that the bodies of the contractors have yet to be found as the community allegedly attacked the police team that went to identify them.
Newsmen also report that the protracted conflict between Effium and Ezza-Effium indigenes of the community has led to the loss of lives and property worth millions of naira.
In another development, the Exercise Golden Dawn of the Nigerian Army on Monday foiled an attempt by alleged members of the proscribed Indigenious People of Biafra (IPOB) to kidnap some medical personnel in Imo.
This is contained in a statement signed by Brig.- Gen.- Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Tuesday.
According to the release, the hoodlums attempted to kidnap a group of medical doctors and nurses known as “Doctors On The Move Africa”.
The doctors were providing free medical care to residents of Amucha community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo.
“The troops in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force, 211 Quick Response Group and the Nigerian Police on receipt of actionable intelligence on the criminal plot, swiftly moved in and rescued the medical team.
“The troops afterward went after the hoodlums and made contact with them at Amauju, Isu LGA of Imo where they were found enforcing the illegal sit at home order.
“In the firefight that ensued, one of the criminals was neutralized, while the others took to their heels and the medical team has been escorted to a safe location.
“One of the criminals who had escaped with gunshot wounds was later apprehended by the local vigilante and handed over to the police,” Nwachukwu said.
He, however, said that the troops recovered one pump-action shotgun, five live cartridges, one Lexus 300 XR SUV and a mobile phone.
