…accuses Uzodimma, Imo CP of complicity
Barely eight days to the presidential election, opposition Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP has released video footage of the third attack on the country home of its Spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere by unknown Gunmen February 7, 2023.
It would be recalled that the third attack took place less than a month after the second attack on January14 during which four people were killed including his uncle and property including houses and over 32 vehicles worth over N1 billion were destroyed.
The video showed the men armed with guns, machetes charms and other dangerous weapons allegedly invading the house in commando style and when they could not find Ikenga in the house, they resorted to terrorizing occupants of the house, stealing of property, planting incriminating items and destruction of property including bursting overhead water tanks and industrial size generators.
The group in a press conference in Abuja also accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and the Commissioner of Police, Imo State of “knowing more than they are willing to say over the attack.”
They alleged that from amongst the attackers, men of the Imo State Police Command, Ebubeagu Network and at least one officer from the Force Intelligence and Investigation Bureau were identified from the video.
They therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately investigate the attack so as to unravel the mystery behind “unknown gunmen” in Imo State.
The second spokesperson of the Coalition, Mr. Mark Adebayo who briefed the press also accused the Imo CP of colluding with the ruling party in the state to seize voter education and campaign materials belonging to Ikenga and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as well as detaining and torturing those in possession of the materials for six days without charging them to Court or releasing them.
He however said that the lawyer who went to secure the bail of the arrested people was also arrested and detained but was released after three days.
Speaking further, Mr. Adebayo also alleged that the Imo CP shielded those responsible for voter register manipulation but only went ahead to charge innocent staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC staff to Court, an action he said has been struck out by the court for lack of evidence.
CUPP therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately redeploy Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Barde, the Commissioner of Police Imo State for his alleged involvement in the attacks on Ikenga and also his involvement in politics.
It further called on the IGP to restrict Governor Hope Uzodimma from coming to Ideato on Election Day as the Governor had promised to spend the day in that constituency on February 25.
CUPP further called on both Local and Foreign election observers and also foreign missions to note Ideato as a flash point for possible election related violence due to the activities of Governor Hope Uzodimma and his party.
