Chief Emmanuel Egwu, an Umuahia-based businessman and politician, has vehemently condemned the recent attack and killing of soldiers at the military base in Ekeneobizi Umuopara, which was perpetrated by suspected hoodlums.
In a statement issued on Sunday and disseminated to the media in Umuahia, Chief Egwu characterized the unprovoked assault as unfortunate and tragic. He referred to the incident as a barbaric act that contradicts the fundamental values of the Umuopara community.
He urged the Abia State government to take prompt action to safeguard the lives and property of the innocent residents of Umuopara. Furthermore, he called upon military authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that the individuals responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice while simultaneously protecting the rights of innocent civilians in the area.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the House of Assembly in the 2023 elections and a native of Ekenobizi, Chief Egwu insisted that the people of Umuopara are naturally peaceful and accommodating and abhor violence in whatever manner or form.
“I call on the Abia State government to swing into action and protect the lives and properties of the innocent people of Umuopara.” He also called on the military to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book but to make sure that innocent residents are not meant to suffer for a crime they did not commit.
Chief Egwu advised the Abia State governor to work with the military authorities to ensure that the military does not go on a reprisal attack in Umuopara but to ensure that only those who are responsible for the heinous act are fished out and punished. He asked the governor to give the issues of insecurity the seriousness they deserve, citing examples of so many reported cases of the killing of security personnel, kidnapping, car snatching, robbery, and most recently, the attack on the military installation.
