The Governor of Abia State Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has imposed a 24 hour curfew in Umuahia and Aba from 6pm, 20th October,2020 till further notice to ensure the continued security of lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
Governor Ikpeazu who announced this in Umauahia said this has become necessary after the detailed review and assessment of the general security situation in Abia State, including reports of armed cultists and hoodlums sneaking into the state from different parts of the country in large numbers, the burning down of at least two police stations, reported killing of two policemen in the last two days as well as leaked plans to unleash more violence on innocent citizens
The Abia State Chief Executive in a Press Release endorsed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, however directed security agents in the state to ensure the immediate arrest of the hoodlums who killed one of the officers as well as carted away arms and ammunition as well as pursue a swift and complete recovery of the stolen arms and ammunition with the necessary vigor, and ensure the cultists were comprehensively flushed out.
He therefore approved a cash reward of Five Million Naira Only (N5, 000,000.00) to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the hoodlums and armed cultists as well as One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) reward for each authentic video evidence on brutality and extrajudicial killings by security agents in the state submitted to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry to inaugurated to investigate the incidents.
It would be recalled that contingent of police officers on official duty around Azikiwe Road by Asa in Aba, was attacked by yet to be identified hoodlums numbering over 30 who sadly killed one of the officers and also carted away their arms and ammunition even though one of the suspected attackers was apprehended with gunshot injuries.
Governor Ikpeazu used the opportunity to advise Parents and guardians are to monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure that they were not engaged in nefarious activities, predispose themselves to harm or allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem in the State.
