- Safiu Kehinde
Suspected hoodlums have, on Monday night, burnt the residence of a former federal lawmaker, Senator Frank Ibezim, at Ezeoke-Nsu in Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State.
The hoodlums stormed the residence, setting it ablaze alongside some facilities at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centre in the area.
According to reports, the cause of the action was traced to Federal Government plan to renovate the NOUN facility as a training ground for repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
This was reportedly met with strong disapproval from indigenes of the community.
A resident of the community who spoke to journalists under anonymity disclosed how the community has rejected the planned project.
“A lot of our people raised their voices against this Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) training project in that place, especially where there is no existence of IDPs in the state.
“The planners of that project were insensitive to the agitation in the area,” he said.
Meanwhile, Imo state police command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incidents in a statement in Owerri.
He described the attacks as barbaric and condemnable.
The spokesman said the state’s Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, had deployed the command’s tactical unit to identify and apprehend those responsible for the act.
The statement read: “Additionally, the Commissioner has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
“This unfortunate incident reflects a disturbing trend of violence that undermines the safety and security of our communities.”
“The command stands firmly against such acts and will take all necessary measures in synergy with other security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
“Furthermore, Danjuma urges the public to refrain from spreading fake news or making inciting statements that could destabilise the current peace in the state.
“He warns that anyone found guilty of spreading false information will face strict consequences.”