Imo State Govt Has Begun The Indiscriminate Arrest Of Sen Okorocha’s Political Associates, Using The Anti-Kidnapping Squad

– Pastor Frank Onwumere, One Of The Illegally Sacked LG Chairmen Has Also Been Arrested For No Known Offence.

– The Duo Of Mr. Ojukwu Ukonu And Mr. Casmir Ugbo Were Arraigned Before A Magistrate That Sat In The Premises Of The Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

–  We Appeal To President Muhammadu Buhari And The Inspector-General Of Police To Intervene.

This is to inform the general public that, the Government in Imo State, led by Governor Hope Uzodinma has begun the indiscriminate arrest of Senator Rochas Okorocha’s Political associates in the State, using the Anti-kidnapping Squad in the Police Headquarters.

The government had drafted a list of Okorocha’s Political family members and has written petitions against those in the list, claiming that, “they are those helping to disorganize the State government”. We are yet to know or to be told, what “Helping to disorganize the State government” is all about.

On Monday, May 17, 2021, by 9am, Police Personnel from the anti-kidnapping unit, stormed the House of another Okorocha’s Political Associate, Pastor Frank Onwumere, on the strength of the Petition written by the State Government and arrested him.

Pastor Onwumere was one of the illegally sacked Local Government Chairmen. He was the Executive Chairman of Okigwe LGA.

The arrest of Pastor Onwumere had come, three days after two members of Okorocha’s larger Political family, Mr. Ojukwu Ukonu and Mr. Camir Ugbo were arrested by the same anti-kidnapping team.

Meanwhile, the Police, today, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, could not arraign Messrs Ojukwu Ukonu and Casmir Ugbo, as earlier indicated after Lawyers for the two men had waited several hours. Which means, they would remain in detention, just to remove them out of circulation.

This is absurd. And the annoying aspect of this whole episode is that, the actors have forgotten that, what they can do as human beings are grossly limited. God has the final say.

Imo State, as we speak, does not seem to be the same Imo, that was created in 1976, which had, before now, remained peaceful, both during Military and Civilian administrations.

We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, to closely monitor what is happening in Imo.  Arresting and detaining innocent Citizens for no known offence, do not add up.
 
President Buhari and the IGP should please save Imo from degenerating into a State where Political Power is unduly used to undo responsible Citizens. Politically motivated intimidation is foreign to Imo Politics. And one does not see it Succeeding now.

We call for the release of the gentlemen that had been arrested and detained on the basis of the Petition by the State government.
–
Sam Onwuemeodo
Special Adviser (Media) to the former Imo State Governor and Senator Representing Imo West Senatorial District, Senator Rochas Okorocha