The honorable member representing Arochukwu State constituency and Minority Whip of Abia State House of Assembly, Honorable Dr. Mike Ukoha has called for calm, but also revealed that SARS officers pushed Nigerian youths to the wall. This statement is contained in a press statement made available to AFNEWS and signed by the honorable member himself.

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW: 

A MESSAGE TO THE GALLANT YOUTHS OF AROCHUKWU LGA

My dear youths of Arochukwu LGA, my heart bleeds as I pen down this message to you all, following the ugly incidents that took place recently at several cities, which took the lives of some of our future leaders in their prime.

I am constrained to write to you all especially our youths who carried out peaceful protest to express their fundamental constitutional right but was unintentionally infiltrated and hijacked by unscrupulous elements.

From the look of things, you all have expressed your anger over police brutality, intimidation, harassment, extortion, torture and wanton killing by those whose duty it is to protect lives and properties.

I must say that it appears the youth were pushed to the wall, having endured this agony from officers of the now defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), for so long.

Indeed, the intimidation has become unbearable and there was a palpable feeling that our youths were no longer safe, as reports of police brutality and other inhuman treatments became the order of the day.

You all exhibited your anger and frustration with the government peacefully and issues of concern had been noted.

I am delighted that the Abia State government has quickly stated steps to be taken in addressing the matter and apparently has gone into action.

I have no doubt in my mind that the various panels of enquiries set up across the country, will do a thorough job so that the law will find its course.

As your representative at the State House of Assembly, as I have done in the past, I will continue to commit my efforts in supporting good initiatives, policies and programmes in the House, that will urgently address all your concerns.

It’s painful that the peaceful protest has degenerated into lost of lives of our future leaders and others injured.

I want to use this medium to appeal to our good Arochukwu LGA youths and Nigerians in general to desist from any act that would put them in further danger, looting and wanton destruction of public and private properties.

I sincerely urge security officers to henceforth act in good conscience to ensure that law and order is restored in our public places as well as protecting law abiding citizens.

I convey my heartfelt sympathies to the families that lost their loved ones, and pray for quick recovery of the injured.

Arochukwu LGA belongs to all of us, so we must collectively cherish and defend it from any act of vandalism.
I appeal to our youths to be calm and engage government through meaningful dialogue with the goal of resolving their legitimate concerns.

Thank you all and may God bless and grant all our heart desires in Jesus name, Amen.

Long live Arochukwu LGA!
Long live Abia State!!
Long live Nigeria!!!

Hon. Dr. Mike Ukoha
Minority Whip/member representing Arochukwu State Constituency
ABHA
25th October, 2020.