The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance (APGA) in Imo state, Sir Tony Ejiogu has condemned the killing of
eight security personnel at Oriagu, Ehime-Mbano LGA of the state.
In an emotional statement on Thursday, September 21, 2023, Ejiogu expressed
sadness over the Tuesday morning event.
Security operatives of the joint task force were said to have been on
patrol along Aba-branch Oriagu in Ehime-Mbano road on Tuesday morning when
some unknown gunmen ambushed them and killed eight security agents.
“It breaks my heart to know that eight innocent families with children have
been made to lose their breadwinners in the course of looking for their
daily bread.
“For how long are we going to continue shedding innocent blood? Whatever
our differences are, are they truly worth the lives of our fellow brothers
and sisters?
“When the system continues to fail in protecting our lives and property,
isn’t this the more reason to unite with and support our security agencies
to help them protect us better?
“A man doesn’t set his house ablaze to prove a point. The men killed are
human beings with families, and the devastating effect this gruesome act
would have on innocent families left behind is better imagined than
experienced,” he said.
While emphasizing the need to prevent the security situation in Imo state
from further degenerating, he appealed to security agencies not to
retaliate.
He also appealed to citizens who may be aggrieved for many reasons to
always seek the non-violent path.
“While I call on my people to please embrace dialogue and negotiations as
the best way to resolve differences, I am also in the same vein appealing
to soldiers and other security agents to please resist the urge for revenge
and desist from any act of reprisal attack.
“This will only affect innocent citizens and would further incite a vicious
circle of hate and violence. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he said.
