... Commiserate with family of Killed Police officer
By Uzo Ugwunze
The unprecedented bomb attack on both the Police station and Civic Center Oba, Idemili South LGA, Anambra State on the early hours of Tuesday September 3, 2024 is still a shock and surprise to Oba people and has left many questions in the heart of the people on what could have prompted the fire bomb attack on the Civic Center which is neither a government facility nor a property belonging to Security agencies.
Speaking to our correspondent during a visit to Oba community, the Regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa (Ezeamaalu Oba), the President General of Oba Patriotic Union OPU, Engr Uzo Ejiofor (Ugonnia Oba), former Youth President of Oba, Chief Obi Ufondu (Ochiagha Oba), Foremost Aspirants for the vacant EzeOkpoko throne, Chief Barrister Vincent Ananti (Aninepungwu Oba) and Chief Engr Augustine Emelobe (Onwa Oba), Former National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Idemili South chapter Chairman, Comrade Kingsley Muoemenam and other illustrious sons of Oba condemned the attack calling on government security agencies not to relent until those behind the heinous attack were unveiled.
In a press release dated 5th September 2024 and signed by the Regent of Oba, Prince Noel Ezenwa who described the incident as unfortunate called on Oba people to remain calm and restrain from casting unfounded aspersions on members of Oba community saying that Oba leadership and security agencies are working tirelessly to track down the perpetrators.
Prince Ezenwa also commiserated with the family of the Late police officer also known as Clement by neighbors who lost his life during the dastardly attack on Oba community property.
According to him, my attention has been drawn to the very ugly and unfortunate incident that took place in our beloved hometown on the early hours of Tuesday September 3rd 2024 when the police station and Civic Center were set on fire.
"My heart goes out to the family of the police officer on active duty protecting our hometown, who was the sole victim of the attack.
"While we have heard of attacks on security personnel on patrol, government facilities and property by unknown persons, the attack on the people's property realized through self help efforts is a new dimension to these kinds of attacks. This incident is utterly condemnable, heinous and abominable.
"Be as it may, I call on everyone to guide their utterances casting aspersions on members of our community to remain calm as the leadership and security agencies do all they can to unravel the cause of the fire and the people responsible for it, in order to forestall a future occurrence.
"I want to personally appreciate everyone who made efforts towards stopping the raging fire by inviting several water tanker operators who worked tirelessly to douse the raging flames, Dalunu!
"We will take stock of our losses and damages to update our people and also re-evaluate our security infrastructure.
"We have no other hometown to call our own and must all work together as one to ensure the safety of lives and property in our hometown. God is always on our side and we shall rise from these challenges," Ezenwa said.
Also, the PG Oba, Engr Uzo Ejiofor after commiserating with the Nigeria Police over the loss of the gallant Officer Clement said that plans were already on ground to allocate another space for a police station for the police to continue their professional duties saying that Oba community assisted the DPO to ensure that the remains of the Late officer was properly deposited in the morgue.
"When I got the distress call around 2am on that fateful day, I contacted Fire Service Nnewi which headed to stop the inferno at the police station while I contacted Chumed Company to open their borehole station for some of our indigenous water tanker operators to fill their tankers and start heading for the Civic Center Oba to quench the raging fire".
"You can see what is left of Oba Civic Center. It is so painful and a clear evidence that nothing happens without a cause. We call for patience as investigation is ongoing to ascertain the reason for the attack because the Civic Center is not a government facility to warrant such vandalisation or demolition".
"This is a very big challenge to Oba community. It is time for Oba people to come together and do the needful so as to forestall future occurrence," said Ejiofor.
According to Barrister Vincent Ananti (Aninepungwu Oba), I commiserate with Oba Regent, PG, Oba people, the Nigerian Police and particularly the family of the deceased police officer.
"This incident is terrible, unheard of and a mystery to Oba people. We hear of such attacks on Police check points, station, LGA Secretariat. Nevertheless, I do not subscribe to people casting aspersions rather if anyone has proofs or any information that will aid investigation or unravel what happened to our Civic Center, let it be brought forward. We pray that the police will come up with findings soonest".
"We call on Oba people to brace up, come together let us rebuild our town hall. The Regent, PG, Presidents of village Quarters, Chairmen, Kindred Heads,All hands should be on deck to resuscitate our Civic Center".
"Nze Onyeka Ibeagwa built and donated that police station, let Government see what they can do.
"This incident has really shown how porous our Civic Center is, where several community documents are kept. There is need to erect a perimeter fence around the Civic Center with a gate. Also, darkness is synonymous with evil, so, solar powered camera enabled searchlights should be installed around that area to illuminate the surroundings and scare criminals away. The Vigilante operatives and Police need to be equipped and insurance scheme established for them so that they can be motivated to always be on surveillance," said Ananti.
Moreso, Engr Augustine Emelobe (Onwa Oba) condemned in its entirety the unfortunate incident which left a dead police officer behind after commiserating with the family of the Late police officer.
"The attack on our Civic Center is an attack on Oba. The attack is condemnable in its entirety. It is absurd. We pray to God that such a thing does not happen again. We are waiting for the outcome of the ongoing investigation. We hope they tell us the results of the investigation,"said Emelobe.
A Former President Oba Youth, Chief Obi Ufondu (Ochiagha Oba) said: "the task of handling this situation should not be left for the PG alone. It is for all of us. Please nobody should be angry. This is our home and we cannot run away from home. If we lose this place, we have no other place to run to. Let everyone come together and think on how to make our community safer".
Contributing, former NYCN Idemili South Chapter Chairman, Comrade Kingsley Muoemenam suggested that the Civic Center vicinity which is always lonely should be made lively with social or business activities. He further suggested that an Anti-cult police unit, should be given a part of the Civic Center Oba premises to serve as their post
"The security architecture of Oba community should be improved such as installation of gates in some major streets or connecting roads which can be locked at nights to check mate movements of vehicles at odd/ night hours which can limit free access or escape of criminals with bad intentions," he added.
The OPU Secretary, Mr. Nwabueze Emebo and Agudindu Ezeumuokolobia also urged Oba people both at home and in diaspora to rally round the PG so as to recover and rebuild the Civic Center Oba. "It looks like our place has been turned into a warzone. We are pleading for unity of Oba people. Let us come together as a broom and assist our PG to develop our community, safeguard and salvage this pathetic situation", they said.
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