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Attack On Police: Villagers Flee

•As Reprisal Attack Is Planned

By Ben Duru

Correspondent , Owerri

Fear of more police reprisal attacks has sent the entire villagers of Umuaka autonomous community in Orlu area of Imo State packing even as the Imo State Government has concluded plans to set up an administrative panel of inquiry into the disturbances that has so far resulted in the loss of three lives.

Competent sources hinted Saturday Independent that policemen from the Imo State Police Command, basking in the euphoria of their alleged recent looting and destruction of property meted out on the Umuaka villagers, have concluded plans to revisit the area.

But the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Isah Bala Mohammed insisted that he was not aware of the plot but that the command was still carrying out additional investigations into the disturbances.

He also said that he couldn’t give the accurate figure of those already in police net but that they would soon be arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction for them to say what they know about the crisis.

Last Monday, while the entire state was busy with the Muslim celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed, mayhem was unleashed at Umuaka following the death of three youths from the village.

It was gathered that the three died when policemen chasing a tipper conveying sand to another village, lost control and swerved out of the road killing the three instantly. The discovery of this caused the youth to mobilise and confront the police.

The angered youths vented their spleen on the nearby police division, which, they burnt after setting the inmates free. The same action was visited on the police barracks where properties of policemen were also torched.

The youth also barricaded the busy Owerri/Orlu road and refused vehicular movements in and outside the area until the policemen who perpetrated the act have been found and made to answer for their sins.

Upon realising the position, a detachment of armed anti-riot policemen were drafted from the Imo State Police command, who visited the village and ransacked the place, setting houses ablaze, destroying property of the villagers including vehicles parked at nearby mechanic workshops. The rampaging policemen were also accused of looting the shops in the entire village and returned to Owerri, their base with their ‘loot’.

Governor Achike Udenwa who rushed to the scene was aghast after viewing the extent of damage to property and immediately assured the community that his administration would ensure that a proper inquiry into the mayhem is established and that those responsible for the incident would be made to pay dear it.

But reports indicate that even though scores of youths, women and aged from the village have been arrested and are languishing at the cell of the Imo State Police Command, more arrests was still being envisaged.

Saturday Independent was told that the fear of another round of attacks had caused the villages to seek refuge elsewhere while appeal have been made to the Imo State Government to call the police to order.

Speaking on the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Mohammed lamented the colossal loss of property of the police as well as the freeing of dangerous criminals awaiting movement to Owerri.

He however insisted that there was no plan to continue raids on the village but that the police in its usual characteristic, would do everything to get to the root of the matter before the arraignment of those arrested in connection with the matter.