By bright eluagu
Even as activities for the 2015 election is yet to fully boom, security situation in Imo State is assuming a frightening dimension with suspected assassins on the prowl.
Residents of World Bank became terrified Wednesday night when staccato of gunshots kept them awake till late night after gun men and men of the Nigeria Police exchanged gunshots in the area.
At the end of the gunmen duel that was said to have lasted for hours, four of the suspected gunmen were gunned down when they challenged the superior fire works of men of the command.
According to the victim of the attack Prof. Protus Nathan Uzoma, an activist and one of the foremost Trumpeta newspapers columnist who has been writing on contemporary issues on affairs of the state, in interview with Trumpeta, he said at about 10pm Wednesday, seven armed men stormed his residence in the night and requested everybody to lie down and started asking for Prof Protus, without really identifying him. His family members who were jolted by the invasion were surprised why they requested for him.
According to Prof Uzoma Nathan “they asked everybody to lie down and requested to see me, while the argument why they wanted to see me and reasons for their actions persisted, I put a call across to Police.
Meanwhile, they did not demand for anything and never took anything inspite of the presence of some essential items in the house. Even no money was demanded except the question where is Prof? Where is Prof?
Continuing, the Trumpeta columnist revealed that it was at that stage that police spirited responses to his call saw exchange of gunshots, “while two ran away three were killed instantly, one died later arising from gun shot injury and one nabbed alive”. They were arrested and am aware name of one (withheld) was made public.
Recalling a similar experience he went through on March 17, 2013, Prof Uzoma noted that four men last year came in similar scenario to his house to demand for him “but unfortunately I was not available. They told my family just like they said last night (Tuesday) that if they get me they will cut off my finger that I used to write”.
Giving further explanations on his travails so far from unknown persons who want to snuff live out of him for yet to be identified reasons, Prof Uzoma said “My life is in danger, I am no longer safe, some forces want to kill me, they are after my life and that of my family. The planned attack that was foiled is coming against the backdrop of strange calls I have been receiving from unknown persons threatening to kill me.
“If actually government or their agents are after my live, I don’t know the reason, they better tell the whole world, I wonder what I have done, but if I have erred then let my sins be made public. My life is under threat, but no amount of threat to kill me will stop me from writing what I feel is the best for the society and the state. Imo belongs to us all, it is the duty of the Chief Executive Officer of the state to handle security matters on protection of lives and property.
“I am not going to run away from Imo or stop writing, no amount of intimidation will stop me. I don’t know why they are after me. I have and will continue to do my duty. Those against me for wrong reasons will face the wrath of God.
However, Police has a different account in their press briefing to newsmen in Owerri. The Imo State Police command have paraded five men who stormed Area ‘M’ zone, World Bank. The Police version said they are suspected armed robbers.
Briefing newsmen at the Police Headquarters, the Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem noted that the Police got a distress call from residents at Area ‘M’ World Bank over armed robbery operation in the area.
He noted that the Police command scorpion squad swung into action by moving to the scene of the incident, adding that the robbers engaged the officers in a shoot- out but the hoodlums were over powered by the Police, resulting to the killing of about four of the robbers, one was arrested alive while others escaped.
Also, two police operatives sustained bullet wounds and are responding to treatment.
The PRO averred that one of the armed robbers who was not shot would assist in giving the police some useful information about the matter “Items recovered from the robbers include: three double barrels and one single barrel locally made short guns, twenty five (25) live cartridges and one expended cartridge, cash of 16,990.00, one Techno Mobile Phone, one wrist watch, four wallets and one vehicle ignition key.
He however pointed out that armed robbers, as they gathered came to rob one Professor, (name withheld) before they met their misfortune and further commended members of the public for giving information to the Police and enjoined them to continue in that direction
Ironically, attempts by newsmen to interview one of the suspects who was alive was unsuccessful as operatives of the command asked the held suspect, David Nwankwo from Ebonyi not to open up.
Similarly, two prominent traditional rulers of Imo who are occupying vintage positions in the government of Imo State have been requested by the Police high command in Abuja to appear before it in connection to a petition written against them by Eze Cletus Ilomuanya.
Ilouanya had petitioned the Inspector General of Police and Director General of State Security Services, SSS, of alleged attempts of the two monarchs (names withheld) from Orlu and Owerri zones to assassinate him.
