| Udenwa indicts police
over kidnappings
By VAL OKARA, Owerri
Friday July 16, 2004
The Imo State Police Command has come under severe attacks
over its inability to nip in the bud the activities of Criminals
particularly Child kidnappers in the State.
The State governor Chief Achike Udenwa who expressed his worry
during an emergency meeting with leaders of thought in Owerri
regretted that Police have not been able to arrest the syndicate
even as government placed N5 million ransom for any person
that could volunteer information that may lead to the arrest
of the group.
Daily Sun reports that security operatives from the Force
Headquarters were in the State combing every nook and cranny
of the state effecting arrests such that at least 200 persons
are cooling their feet in Police detention at the SCID.
Recounting the 1996 OTOKOTO riot, Udenwa stated that its attendant
consequences have largely contributed to the economic woes
of the states, as some potential investors relocated to other
States."The scars of the riot hanged from 1996 to 1999
when we assumed duty in the State, Owerri the State capital
and its environs were terribly devastated leading to relocation
of business enterprises from Owerri with new ones not coming"
he said.
The governor decried t the level of insecurity in the state,
which has shattered the reputation of the state as the most
peaceful in the Federation adding that he had intimated the
President and the Inspector-General of Police over the issue,
with the latter dispatching some security operatives to the
State.
Pleading with the leaders, Udenwa stated "as leaders
in the society you should remember that evil thrives where
good men do nothing. Let us not allow evil to rule us. Please
contribute for all to get this behind us."
Present at the meeting were the State Police boss, Mr. Hezekiah
Dimka, his SSS counterpart, the Brigade Commander, former
minister for Establishment, Chief I.D. Nwoga and Heads of
higher Institutions among others.
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