Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the burning of the house of the governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma at Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued by the command and endorsed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Orlando Ikeokwu Godson said that the hoodlums attacked the governor’s house by throwing in petrol bomb as a result of which two cars were burnt.
He said that the hoodlums were successfully repelled, and none of the building was set ablaze.
According to him one unarmed personnel of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, was killed in the process, while a Police Sergeant and another NSCDC personnel in their private vehicles at Mgbidi junction along Owerri-Onitsha express high way were killed when the attackers were escaping.
It was gathered that the attackers stormed the place with their vehicles in their numbers dressed in black and black attire. The two vehicles, among which was a coaster bus, packed beside the gate and another car inside the compound were set on fire.
The situation had resulted in the blockage of Owerri Onitsha express highway and other adjoining roads by security personnel drafted to the area.
However, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, has described the unfortunate incident as a politically motivated.
In his statement issued on Saturday in Owerri, the commissioner said that gallant security operatives repelled an attack on the Omuma country home of the governor.
He explained that “at about 9 am today, Saturday, April 24th, a group of hoodlums numbering about 15 driving in a motorcade of three vehicles accompanied by a tipper loaded with used tyres, stormed the country home of the governor in Omuma, Oru East LGA and attempted to burn down the house”.
He denied the setting on fire of the governor’s house, disclosing that vigilant security operatives attached to the house successfully repelled the attack and consequently minimised the damage they had planned to unleash.
He added that during the crossfire that ensued, a few casualties were, however, recorded.
According to him, the government had directed the relevant security agencies to expedite investigation on the incident and promptly apprehend the sponsors and their agents and bring them to justice.
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