…Discovers Shallow Graves, Courts, Cells, Shrines, Others
Troops of Nigerian security forces in Imo State have carried out a clearance security operation in Aku community, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, where they made chilling discoveries, including shallow graves of innocent people murdered in cold blood.
Fielding questions from newsmen during inspection of the operation, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Usman Lawal said they embarked on a clearance operation in the general area, so law abiding members of the community will have peace and be able to celebrate Christmas and new year.
He lamented that the bandits who claim to be freedom fighters have been engaging all manners of criminalities and also wanton destruction of properties, including Churches, Schools, and private residents of people.
He pointed out that the miscreants removed all the metal windows, cut them into pieces and used them as fragments in their Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) which they detonate, to deter troops from accessing their location.
Lawal promised that the shallow graves will be dug for the death bodies to be exhumed, possibly identified and handed over to the relatives for proper burial.
“You have seen the general evil that is perpetrated against this community; vandalization of schools and churches. This kind of evil activity will not be allowed to continue. We will try and defend these people, especially now that we are preparing for the yuletide celebrations”.
On the arrests made, Lawal said, “We have made several arrests, which I will not reveal now. Several people have been arrested, but we are interrogating them, to ascertain their level of culpability, for appropriate prosecution.
Also speaking, Imo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Aboki Danjuma said the security Chiefs in the state, including officials of the state government embarked on a visit to their troops in Aku, to assess the success of their operation. He from what they saw, the operation was progressing smoothly.
“Their operation has been superb. They succeeded. So many arrests have been made, so many clearances carried out. As you witnessed, we visited their Court where they pass judgment and executed jungle justice, as well as their detention center. We have also seen some shallow graves where they bury their victims”.
In his contribution, the Chief Security Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma, General Joseph Ogbonna (Rtd) said the state government was in full collaboration with the security agencies by providing them logistics and incentives, to make sure the aims and objectives of the operation is achieved.
He urged the people of Aku to take advantage of the joint security clearance operation to come back, take back their community, and collaborate with security agents to ensure the operation’s success and the return of peace and economic prosperity to their community.
Other leaders of security agencies in Imo State who were in the team included; the Director, the Department of State Security (DSS), a representative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), as well as the Imo State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Modestus Osakwe.
