The Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has given reasons why the popular Eke Ututu market in Orsu Ihitte Ukwa Local Government Area was burnt, saying the place was discovered by security agencies as a haven for the production of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by bandits and other criminal elements.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Government House Owerri the Governor called on all Imo indigenes – leaders, men, women, and youths, both that resident in the State and those visiting, who has information that can lead to where bandits are hiding or operating within the State to avail government of such information in the interest of all.
Governor Uzodimma said security report revealed that Eke Ututu was turned into a hiding place for bandits and kidnappers who, not only compelled the traders to pay taxes to them before they could open their shops for business but also use the market to manufacture IEDs with which they operate within and outside the area.
The Governor said that report indicated that an Army Major working in the State recently fell victim to the IED planted at Eke Ututu as he was killed instantly after stepping on the locally manufactured explosive unknowingly.
According to him one of the bandits arrested at their Camp at Orsu Ihitte Ukwa gave the military hint about their mode of operation within the vicinity, including where they maintain shops for fertiliser and other gadgets at Eke Ututu where they manufacture the IEDs
Uzodimma pointed out that on the day the military went to the market with the arrested bandit, the Captain who led the team also mistakingly stepped on an IED that was carefully hidden at the place and in the process he was badly injured that he had to be admitted at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri.
Angered by these developments, particularly the loss of their senior officer and the wounding of another, the governor said that Armed Forces authorised a combined operation involving their men from Imo and the Anambra States at Orsu Ihitte Ukwa, mainly the Eke Ututu axis and its neighbouring state of Anambra.
The Governor said that it was in the process that the security agencies razed the market.
The Governor emphasized that his government will stop at nothing in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in Imo State and that it will be pursued to a conclusive end.
He said: “This is not politics, it is about the security of lives and property of our people. And anybody who wants to play politics with this should be ready to face history that will judge all of us.”
He regretted that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and their members have been trying to make political capital of the incident, howbeit ignorant of what transpired, noting that it is not in doubt they have a hand in the spate of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in Imo State.
The Governor said from the behaviour of the PDP members in Imo State they want to frustrate the conduct of elections in Imo State.
Governor Uzodimma however pledged to continue to support the security agencies to do their work, notwithstanding the collateral damage that may go with it.
The Governor explained in detail how Eke Ututu at Orsu Local Government Area Imo State was burnt last Saturday.
His words: “Last month soldiers on duty around Orsu, Awo Idemili area lost an Army Major to illegal and locally manufactured explosives.
The Government said that only last Saturday the Joint Security Forces who arrested one of the bandits took him to where they operate from to go and visit where the local explosives are manufactured. It turned out to be at Eke Ututu market where four shops were stocked with fertilizers, ammonia sulphate and other electrical gadgets used in manufacturing explosives were packed.
He said that unfortunately, the Army Captain that led the operation to the market is now lying critically at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Federal Medical Centre Owerri as a result of the attack he sustained in the operation.
He said: “Consequent upon the above, the soldiers were able to recover all the weapons and the fertilizers meant to manufacture the local Improvised Explosive Device. In the process of this operation, the Military burnt down the shops as this is consistent with their policies”.
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“The Good news, however, is that they were careful and so tactical that no life was lost. They were only able to destroy the shops where they met these items and came back.
He said: “It pleased some citizens of the State, most of them who are candidates running for elections in some political parties, to condemn the activities of the security agencies, some brazenly blackmailing the security agencies on why should they go there at all when none of them made any attempt to visit the scene (Eke Ututu)”.
He said:”In the same Eke Ututu market, some natives and traders cannot go to the market without paying illegal taxes to the bandits and unknown gunmen to enable them to open their shops. This, unfortunately, is what government had been fighting all through.”
Governor Uzodimma promised that the “Government is in a position to deal with any collateral damage that may go with the security agencies operations as it concerns the destruction of shops and historical significance of Eke Ututu market, but lives lost can never be recovered.”
He said: ” When Eke Ututu is destroyed to give Imo people peace, Imo government can rebuild the market and if in the process properties and items are lost government can work out compensation, but the government has the responsibility to fight crime.”
The Governor recalled how insecurity had tried to envelop Imo State for nearly three years now and how Government has made efforts to contain the situation in addition to the clarion call on communities and Local Governments to support the security agencies in their efforts to contain the level of insecurity.
He equally recalled the Government’s call on the bandits and the unknown gunmen to seize fire, surrender and lay down their arms, and discuss with the government so that government can work with them in terms of rehabilitation and empowerment.
He said: “It is now a clarion call for all Imolites, both those residents and those visiting volunteer information that will lead to managing insecurity in Imo State.”
Credit: The Nigerian Tribune