Abia State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew on Aba and Umuahia to ensure the continued security of lives and property of law-abiding citizens.
John Okiyi Kalu, the State’s Commissioner of Information in a press statement, stated that the State Government took the decision after a detailed review and assessment of the general security situation, including reports of armed cultists and hoodlums sneaking into the state from different parts of the country in large numbers.
Also, the burning down of at least two police stations reported the killing of two policemen in the last two days, as well as leaked plans to unleash more violence on innocent citizens.
Consequently, he stayed that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed security agents to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of the hoodlums, pursue a swift and complete recovery of the stolen arms and ammunition with the necessary vigour, and ensure the cultists are comprehensively flushed out.
“Last night a contingent of police officers on official duty around Azikiwe Road, by Asa in Aba, was attacked by yet to be identified hoodlums numbering over 30, who sadly killed one of the officers and also carted away their arms and ammunition even though one of the suspected attackers was apprehended with gunshot injuries.
“Furthermore, Governor Ikpeazu has approved a cash reward of N5 million to anyone who provides information that would lead to the arrest of the hoodlums and armed cultists.
“This is in addition to the approval of a reward of N1million, for each authentic video evidence on brutality and extrajudicial killings by security agents in the state, submitted to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry being inaugurated to investigate the incidents”.
The statement advised parents and guardians to monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure that they are not engaged in nefarious activities, predispose themselves to harm or allow themselves to be used to cause mayhem in the State.
