Agency report
Abia State Governor Alex Otti said the state government has taken pragmatic measures to rejig the state’s security architecture.
Mr Otti said this on Saturday, when he briefed journalists at the end of a security council meeting held at Nvos in the Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.
The government’s action was coming in the wake of November 13 fatal attack on troops of the Joint Task Force of the South East Operation Udo Ka in Ekene Bizi Community of Umuahia South LGA.
The gunmen shot and killed three soldiers during the attack.
On Sunday the convoy of the lawmaker, representing Isiala Ngwa South and North Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, was ambushed by gunmen and a police officer killed.
On Wednesday, a police checkpoint in Ohafia LGA was attacked by gunmen, and a police operative was killed, while two others were injured.
The governor described the attacks and killing of security officers in the state as unfortunate.
He further said that positive and proactive approaches were being taken to address the security challenges in the state.
He said, “I am happy that today we have resolved to rejig the security architecture of the state and be sure that things like this will be a thing of the past.”
Mr Otti commiserated with the Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force over the loss of their personnel.
He said, “As I settle down I’ll try to visit the families of the deceased, including the leaderships of the Nigerian police and Nigerian Army in the state. We have also agreed to double our efforts in the different areas where there are possibilities of attacks, particularly now that the Yuletide is here. We want to also reassure our people that we are more than competent to deal with the security challenges.’’
Mr Otti urged the people not to live in fear and assured them that the government would do everything possible to protect their lives and property.
He also urged the people not to take the unfortunate attacks as what defines Abia.
According to him, effective strategies will be applied in addressing the situation accordingly.
He said, “We have the commitment of the security agencies and everyone is going to double their efforts to ensure that the attacks did not happen again. We also have taken a decision to smoke all the criminals out, wherever they are hiding. So, we want to give notice that, if you are a criminal and in Abia, whether you call yourself IPOB or ESN or bandits or kidnappers, this place will not be safe for you. So, that is the warning from us.” NAN