By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri
The sociocultural apex group in Orsu Local Government Council Area of Imo State, Odimma Orsu Initiative have encouraged residents and indigenes of the area to cooperate with the military to eradicate the activities of the Purported bandits who are terrorizing the entire Orsu Local Government.
The group also pleaded that citizens and residents of Orsu Communities should jettison the propaganda purportedly disseminated by the bandits, claiming that the military is against villagers.
“Our people must stand strong and corporate With the security agencies to protect our Land against the bandits who have been terrorizing our Communities. We plead with them to stop running from the military, bandits are only creating panics and paddling propaganda. Even 80% (percent) of the bandits are not originally from Orsu Local Government” they group revealed.
The group spoke through their Chairman, Eze-Elect, Eze E I Nwokedi (Ekwuru 1 of Ekwuru Orsu), in a press briefing held on Tuesday, in Owerri attended
Their statement partly read; “people of Orsu LGA once again express total commitment to the restoration of law and order, peace and security of life and property across the length and breadth of Orsu LGA.
“To this end, we are aware of recent orders issued by the Military High Command to appropriate Military personnel to takeover troubled communities, tackle the criminals making life unbearable for residents and indigenes of such communities for the soonest restoration of law and order, peace and tranquillity.
“We have accordingly approached the Military authorities to offer the cooperation of law abiding, peace loving Orsu people who are willing to accord them the assistance necessary for the success of the mission.
“The leadership of ODIMMA ORSU INITIATIVE therefore calls on all law abiding people of Orsu to see the Military and other Government security personnel deployed to restore law and order in our troubled communities as partners helping to protect us and secure our properties from the hooligans who have defiled our land and oppressed our people for over two years.
“Consequently, Odimma Orsu Initiative hereby calls on the good people of Orsu not to be afraid and/or run helter skelter whenever they set their eyes on the Nigerian Military personnel and other Government security agents on patrol in various parts of the LGA.
“Contrary to the mischievous propaganda disseminated by the criminals and their collaborators, Soldiers and other Government security agents are our friends, not enemies. The aim of the Military officers coming into Orsu is to foster peace, enhance security and to restore normalcy.
“The people of Orsu should embrace the Military and offer maximum cooperation needed to restore peace.
“In defense of the strategic interest of our people, the leadership of ODIMMA ORSU INITIATIVE held a critical meeting with authorities of the Nigerian Military in Imo State to work out modalities for implementation of the orders of the Military High Command in a manner that assures smooth effectiveness with zero collateral damage to our innocent and law abiding people.
“The Military will go inside the communities to fish out the perpetrators and the criminals and hand them over to the appropriate quarters to do the needful in making sure justice take it’s shape so they can face the wrath of the law.
“As concerned leaders and critical stakeholders in Orsu, we once again plead with some of our youths who had been integrated into the inglorious activities of bandits and criminals operating in Orsu to repent and embrace the Amnesty Programme of the Imo State Government before it become too late for them.”
