By Jennifer John
Youths killed in Imo are bandits -Uzodimma
Arrested gang member gave Ebubeagu operation info – DSS
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has described the youths who were allegedly murdered by operatives of Imo security outfit known as Ebubeagu at Awomamma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State on their way back from a traditional marriage ceremony as bandits.
He described the claims that they were innocent youths killed at a wedding venue as a distractive propaganda and blackmail, adding that his government will not be distracted in her quest to protect the lives and property of Imo citizens.
The governor spoke on Monday after the Imo State Security Council meeting, saying that the government had been briefed on the incident by the Director of State Services, in an interim report made available to members of the Security Council.
Uzodimma added that the DSS Director confirmed that his men carried out an operation in a Camp at Awomamma, with the assistance of their informant and not at a wedding place as claimed by the youths and that it was in the process that some bandits were neutralised.
He said while the Security Council awaits detailed report on the incident, it is important that the public are wary of those using the incident as propaganda tool to blackmail the security agencies and the government.
Also Uzodimma describe as fallacy, the claim on the social media and sections of the traditional media about a 15 year old girl allegedly impregnated in the DSS detention.
He said security report disclosed that two ladies were caught with bandits about six months ago and have been helping the DSS in identifying and arresting other dangerous bandits in the state.
He said, “Incidentally, the so-called 15 year old lady happens to be the girl friend to a key gang leader of the bandits terrorizing the state and on the trail of the DSS operatives.
“Security report has shown that the fleeing gang leader had reached out to his sponsors who have resorted to using the 15 year old lady in question to blackmail the DSS and divert attention.
The whole thing boils down to propaganda and blackmail targeted at the Security agencies.
“You know I will never allow anything ungodly to happen in Imo State. Their target is to puncture the relative peace the security agencies have helped us to achieve in Imo State and we are determined to sustain the peace.
We won’t be deterred. No amount of propaganda will make us to loose focus “.
Meanwhile while briefing newsmen on the incident, the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) in Imo State, said it was a sting operation with the help of an ESN gang member, Chinonso Mmerem, earlier arrested by the operatives.
He said the gang who were gathered to plan for the enforcement of the illegal sit-at-home the following day, Monday 18 July, opened fire on siting operatives of the DSS and was consequently repelled with a superior firepower of the operatives, leading to the death of about seven of them.
He led newsmen to the alleged member of ESN in DSS detention, Mmerem Chinonso who allegedly led the DSS to the alleged hideout of his members where the said gang members were shot dead.
Fielding questions from newsmen, Chinonso Mmerem who said he hails from Amiri Ubahu Azu in Imo State said he was a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) for over a year.
He said he was arrested by the DSS at his hometown about a week before the incident where he led DSS operatives to the hideout of his gang members.
On his involvement with Sunday incident where over fifteen youths of Otulu were allegedly murdered in cold blood by alleged operatives of Ebubeagu, he said they led DSS officers to their new camp at Awomamma where they killed many of them and others escaped with bullet wounds.
“Yes I was there. We were in convoy. It was along the road at the place they are camping. We saw them; TUYC, Njaba and those guys. They were gathered there. Their motorcycles were parked by the side. They were gathered there drinking. We met them there and we started shooting. Many of them died there, some of them ran away”.
On how he managed to get information that the group was meeting at that spot on that fateful day, having been in DSS detention for over a week, he said, “I know that if you want to catch them, it will be on a Sunday when they gather to plan on how to go and do work on Monday lockdown.
Mmerem who mentioned the names of some of their alleged members and some of their camps, including the one at Orsu Ihitteukwa which he described as their federal camp, said he has repented and called on all other youths who are still operating as members of IPOB/ ESN to repent from it, as according to him, there is no life there”.
However, Socio economic activities were brought to a halt in Awomamma and environs, Monday as women and youths protested the alleged massacre of 14 persons by alleged Ebubeagu security outfit.
The youths and women in their numbers blocked the ever busy Owerri, Onitsha road, mourning the killing of the 14 youths who they said were killed while returning from a traditional wedding.
The protesters carrying placards with different inscriptions insisted that peace will only return in the state when government disbands Ebubeagu.
