The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, Alhaji Abdulmajid Ali has exonerated the eight suspects, recently arrested in the wake of the discovery of Integrated Explosives Devices (IED) planted close to the entrance gate of Living Faith Church (AKA) Winners Chapel, Port Harcourt Road, Owerri from accusations of planting the bombs.
Speaking on Radio Nigeria (HeartLand) FM station Owerri phone-in programme, on Friday June 20, 2014, the Commissioner who said the masterminds of the bombs are yet to be identified, located or traced, exonerated members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect from the allegations of being responsible for planting the bombs. He asserted that members of the dreaded Boko Haram are yet to arrive Imo State.
The Commissioner explained that though the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency is becoming unbearable and mysterious, there is no indication to believe that they have penetrated the Igbo heartland state of Imo or its environs but warned all inhabitants to thread with caution and report any suspicious movements or unidentifiable movement of persons or parcels to the police using the phone numbers he reeled out.
Alhaji Abdulmajid Ali explained that eagle eyed informants had alerted the police upon sighting the bombs at Winners Chapel Owerri and posited that they are already looking elsewhere for the source of the mayhem other than those already arrested and the highly vilified members of Boko Haram.
Following scathing remarks alleging that the relationship between the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and leaders of the Muslim North is responsible for the incidence of Boko Haram in Imo State, the Governor petitioned the Commissioner of Police to investigate and ascertain if his political detractors and opponents simply planted those bombs at Winners Chapel Owerri to undo him and ruin his future political career. This is because in recent times, most Igbo indigenes, critics and PDP leaders have come to associate APC which Governor Okorocha is a prominent leader with sponsoring Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria.
Alhaji Abdulmajid’s assertions that the police are already looking at other suspects has fueled speculations that some politicians in Imo State might be invited for questioning.
Meanwhile in a press release by the Acting Publicity Secretary of PDP in Imo State, Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, the party reiterated its conviction that Governor Okorocha provided the enablement for the thriving of Boko Haram insurgency in Imo State. He regretted that details are yet to be made public of all those arrested for Boko Haram related activities in Imo State.
He cited the example of a crippled suspect and Boko Haram sympathizer apprehended by eagle-eyed police officer at the premises of Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral Owerri while service was on, attempting to ignite a full loaded petrol tanker that fell in front of the church saying, it was regrettable that despite the verified concerned of our party, the security agencies were non challant in investigating the matter, infact they unprofessionally caved in to the unnecessary reaction of the state government that it was propaganda by political opponents.
