Attack On Ikenga: PDP Wants Buhari To Declare State of Emergency In Imo

. Asks For Disbandment of Ebubeagu Vigilante Group

. Demands For Security For Its Candidates, Party Members

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Imo State chapter has appealed to the President and Commander In- Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari to declare a State of Emergency in Imo State, if the insecurity ravaging the State continues.

The Party made the declaration in its State Head Office, Owerri, Imo State yesterday during a World Press Conference it held to address the Media on the vicious attack carried out on its candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency in the February 25, 2023 election, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.

In a Press Release signed by the State Chairman, Engr Charles Ugwuh, but read out by the State Secretary, Hon Nze Ray Emeana, the Party called for the immediate disbandment of Ebubeagu Vigilante Outfit, which the PDP lamented has been turned to a private Hit Squad.

The Party also accused some Security Agencies of having compromised their duties by turning themselves to private Army, rather than securing the larger society, for which they are paid with tax payers money.

Imo PDP regretted that since three years the present Government in Imo State led by Senator Hope Uzodinma assumed office, insecurity has escalated in the State, and continued to rise than be controlled.

On Ebubeagu, Imo PDP said “It is worrisome that Ebubeagu which appears currently positioned as a hit squad, represents a worse nightmare of Imo State, than the organized net work of Bandits and Kidnappers it was established to confront”.

PDP cried out that Imo has been transformed into a “theatre of war, butchery, where daily extra-judicial murders have become so common that the incidents no longer merit headline attention”.

The Party said that “The tragic Irony in all of this is that the State Government under Senator Hope Uzodinma, which has the primary responsibility to protect lives and property is not only incapable of securing the State, but appears complicit in the escalation of Insecurity”.

The Party therefore appealed to President Mohammadu Buhari to declare a State of Emergency in the State if the situation persist, to save the citizens, since the State’s Chief Security Officer, Governor Hope Uzodinma has failed to secure the State and her citizens.

“If the Insecurity in the State persists, the President and Commander In Chief, Mohammadu Buhari should declare a State of Emergency in Imo” PDP said.

The Party asked for security for all its candidates, as the environment is no more safe, even for the party to campaign again for the 2023 elections.

“ Our deep concern therefore, is that under the current State of terror and public anxiety for Personal Safety, it will be foolhardy to further undertake any form of voter mobilization and vote canvassing in Imo State” Imo PDP hinted.