The former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia state and governorship aspirant Senator Emmanuel Nwaka has condemned the killing of two men of the Nigerian Army by gunmen suspected to be illegal crude oil refiners. The PDP chieftain condemned this dastard act in a press statement personally signed by him on Friday 21st January, 2022 and made available to ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER.
The two soldiers were reported to have been killed on Monday 17th January 2022 at a check point near an oil pipeline between Owaza and Obuzor communities in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.
The former senator described the killings as dastardly, horrible, and criminal assault on the integrity of law enforcement in our beloved state. He stated that he is worried at the spate of insecurity and its disastrous consequences on the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Abia state. He added that he is burdened at the growing poverty and misery of the people. The PDP chieftain argued that this is not time for additional troubles for a people who are already hard pressed on every side.
The former Abia PDP chairman further reiterated that the people of Abia state recognize the Nigerian Army, as a legal institution that has the right to protect its soldiers when they are illegally attacked. He however berated the Nigerian army for the allege revenge attack on Owaza community by soldiers from 144 Battalion in Asa. He described the action as grossly immoral, highly irresponsible, and totally illegal, and must therefore be condemned by all Nigerians.
He stated that it is reported that the soldiers set ablaze houses and shops in the area. He opined that this action is a gross violation of the rights to property of members of the community and an infliction of unbearable economic losses to Owaza community and its environs in general. He condemned the revenge action of the soldiers describing it as reprehensible for the reason that there is no evidence it was members of the Owaza community that attacked and killed their colleagues. “These gunmen could have come from elsewhere “he added.
The former Federal legislator commended the governor of Abia state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for strongly condemning the assault on law and order in the state. He posited that the governor’s quick and strong condemnation will send a signal to criminal elements that the state does not condone such acts that will destroy the economic competitiveness of the state and scare away both citizens and investors who would like to tap into the state to further make Abia truly God’s own state.
Senator Nwaka in the press statement stated that as a leader in Abia, he is pained that the acts of some criminal elements cause severe pains for innocent members of our communities. He said as a leader, he is appealing to the Nigerian Armed Forces to restraint in dealing with insecurity in Abia and the Southeast and to seek more community-based and constitutional means of dealing with such criminality. “Our commitment should be to ensure peaceful environment and policy support so as to create more wealth and jobs for our people in order to weaken the inclination and attraction to crimes” he stated.
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