Gov. Okezie Ikepeazu of Abia State has condemned in the strongest terms the recent killing of a butcher at the popular waterside Abbatoir in Aba by soldiers of the Nigeria Army.
The governor who made this condemnation through a press release issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) Godwin Adindu in Umuahia bemoaned what he described as the dastard act of the soldiers that led to the untimely death of the butcher who he said must have been the bread winner of his family.
The governor who expressed deep and heartfelt sympathy of the administration to the bereaved family, friends and business associates of the murdered butcher however, expressed belief that the murderer soldier has been arrested and taken into custody even as he assured that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on him.
He called on the good people of Abia and all residents, especially those of Aba to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as his administration remains committed to protecting lives and property in the state.
While calling on the re-equipped security agencies in the state to launch watertight security around the state borders and towns against any form of attack, Dr Okezie the statement notes also directed the men of Abia State Vigilante Services (AVS) to begin intensive two weeks training preparatory to being deployed to the communities of the state for enhanced security.
In the same vein the statement states that law enforcement agencies have been mandated to search and stop all vehicles conveying livestocks, food items and persons into the state from any part of the country with a view to preventing inter state movement of arms and terrorists.
It explains that in furtherance of the administration’s desire to make Abia a safe haven the governor has constituted a farmers/herdsmen conflict resolution committee with the commissioner of police, of the state as head while other members of the committee are the Brigade Commander, State Director of State Security, State commandant of NSCDC, the Naval commander, Special Adviser on Special Duties, State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Myetti Allah representative and Sarkin Hausawa, Abia State.
The committee the statement adds is to be replicated in all the 17 councils of the state to ensure security is maintained in all the nooks and crannies of the state.
