By Peter Salami
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has assured residents that his administration will stop at nothing to end the spate of killings and the menace of so-called unknown gunmen terrorising the state. He hinted that the perpetrators “may actually be known,” accusing certain politicians of fuelling the crisis for selfish reasons.
Speaking on Sunday after a church service at the Government House Chapel, the governor, visibly angered by the latest killing of innocent citizens in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area, extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and communities.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, Uzodimma decried the persistent attacks, lamenting that “wicked politicians are bent on frustrating government’s efforts to restore peace and security in Imo State.”
Recalling a chilling incident from two years ago, Uzodimma disclosed that security operatives recently arrested the individual responsible for the beheading of a Local Government Chairman in Ideato North. He revealed that the suspect, now in custody, confessed and implicated several accomplices, some of whom are already being interrogated by the police.
The governor vowed that every individual linked to these heinous crimes would be brought to justice, warning that political saboteurs masquerading as allies while conspiring against the state would not escape the law.
“It is not enough for people to come around me pretending to be working for me, while they are busy participating in conspiracies, eliminating innocent lives, and trying to pull down the government,” Uzodimma fumed.
He announced that within the next two weeks, the state government would establish and equip vigilance groups in every community across Imo, providing them with the necessary logistics to enhance grassroots security.
Seeking public cooperation, he urged communities to support the initiative, while warning those sabotaging the government’s peace efforts to desist in their own interest. He also cautioned political actors who are already “heating up the polity” in preparation for elections to exercise restraint until the appropriate time.
Turning to the issue of affordable healthcare, Uzodimma called on well-meaning individuals to assist the less privileged in enrolling in the Imo Health Insurance Scheme, to ensure that all citizens can access free and quality healthcare.
“Let us work as brothers and sisters to help restore and achieve the Imo State of our collective dream,” he appealed.
Earlier during the Mass, the officiating priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Augustine Agoawike, urged Christians to focus on sharing their God-given blessings with others, reminding them of the transient nature of earthly possessions.
He admonished the faithful to take heed from the Biblical parable of the rich man, stressing that true wealth lies not in material accumulation but in living a life that honours God and promotes peace with fellow humans.