Imo Apex Diaspora Organisation Condemns Massacre Of Imo Youths, Calls For Immediate Investigation
By:The Tochlight Africa News
…….Sayskillingarmless Imolites can’t be justified
The apex Imo Diaspora Organisation in the Americas known as Imo State Congress of America has condemned the recent killings of 14 Imo Youths with death tolling still rising in Awo-Omamma who were said to be returning from a Marriage ceremony.
The group described State Security Service’s claim that victims were bandits as unjustifiable, senseless and symptom of cluelessness.
Imo State Congress of America said their investigation revealed that the claim that only 14 died was inappropriate as death toll has risen to over 20, wandering how a government could mismanage an internal security challenges.
They cited examples of how Federal Government has taken steps to rehabilitate confirmed terrorists captured in the course of duty, guessing how Security agents can justify killing of armless Imo youths who ought to be innocent in the eyes of the law until proven otherwise.
They said they are terrified by the continual extra judicial killings in the State, questioning the reason Uzodimma’s government cannot secure a reliable intelligence.
They called for independent inquiry into the shooting to death scores of youths from Otulu in Oru West local government area of the State who were reportedly returning from neighbouring Awo-Omamma for marriage ceremony and many others.
They also raised questions over other reported killings, especially the alleged killing of 5 members of the same family in Orlu.
Their statement:
We have read with heaviness of heart over the gruesome killings in our dear State that was once the most peaceful State in the country.
We have always condemned the acts of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities but from our preliminary investigation, it seems that the goal of securing Imo has been hijacked by those who feel it’s an opportunity vent their vendetta.
We are terrified by the killing of over 20 youths who were cut down by the gun of operatives of the State Security Services as captured in Senator Uzodimma’s press statement. The number of death tolls keep rising and from the latest information over 18 are already dead.
While we acknowledge Uzodimma’s after thought statement in the the matter, we call for an independent investigation into major killings in Orlu with a view to finding out the facts and leveraging on it to get justice for the people.
Even as Governor Uzodimma claims that those killed were bandits, it is still not justifiable. They were armless! We have had cases of captured confirmed terrorists in the Northern Nigeria who were rehabilitated. Why were they not killed at sight?
We query the intelligence of the security agencies in the state and why must Imo future be annihilated in nextra judicial killings without any justifiable reason.
We are also worried that the Chief Executive, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, was yet to get full detail of the report of what really happened before sending out that joke of a press statement.
We call for an effort to return peace and tranquility that once pervaded the state and that can only be achieved if justice is served.
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