Governor Alex Otti has condemned the reprisal attack by operatives of the Nigeria Police in Aba on innocent citizens over the killing of their colleague in Samek junction while on a legitimate duty with the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu on Tuesday 25th July 2023.
“In the same vain, the Governor has condemned in strong terms the reprisal attack allegedly carried out by some police officers against some innocent citizens in the city of Aba earlier today, describing it as lawless and counterproductive, since such victims have not been proven to be directly or indirectly involved in the attack that led to the death of those two Police Officers.”
He also condemned the attack on police officers by yet-to-be-identified gunmen whom he described as cruel, unjust, and highly provocative and should be condemned by all men and women of good conscience.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma revealed that Governor Otti got the Police authorities to withdraw the Officers from the affected areas which paved the way for the return of peace and normalcy in the area getting to know about the attacks.
Part of the statement reads, “Governor Otti assures that his government would do everything within its powers to ensure that the killers of the Police Officers and their sponsors are brought to justice and that those Police Officers who took laws into their hands by brutalizing innocent citizens and destroying people’s properties are also made to face the law. He insists that two wrongs can never make a right.
Finally, the Governor has also promised to ensure that adequate compensation is paid to the families of the slain Officers and to innocent citizens who were brutalized and their properties destroyed. Credible intelligence has revealed the possible source of the attack and the security forces have already swung into action to route out all forms of criminality in the state. He, therefore called on Abians to go about their legitimate businesses without fear, assuring them that his government would continue to place priority on the welfare and security of all Abians.”
On Monday, a police officer attached to the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, and Industry, Dr. Ukaegbu was gunned down by gunmen who were dressed in black and their police van was set ablaze at Samek Junction in Faulks Road, Aba.
Following this, there was panic in Aba as police officers, in a viral video, were attacking residents in their shops and homes.
