A former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, Lasbery Okafor Anyanwu, has sent a ‘Save-My-Soul’ message to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, accusing the police and other security forces of threatening his life.
Speaking in Owerri, Anyanwu, who served under Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration, said he was in his home about 6:30a.m. on Thursday, when he had a distressed call from his workers that a combined team of policemen, army and the Department of State Service (DSS) had invaded his premises.
“They carted away vehicles on the fleet of MTN Mass Transport Network Company Limited, arresting its Chief Driver over an unknown offence,” he said, adding that the security men chased away passengers who were either traveling or arriving from commercial buses in the company.
He alleged that the siege on his company was politically motivated, having been recently appointed by Okorocha as Coordinator of the Rescue Family, a political structure of the former governor’s men.
“With this kind of experience, my life is in danger. It is politically motivated, having been appointed the Coordinator of Rescue Family. I don’t know where I should run to now other than the media.
“I have lost nothing less than N500m. There was no invitation, no court order. The security men were no fewer than 100. They stormed the premises asking after me, saying they will deal with me,” he stated.
Reacting to the allegation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed that the policemen actually visited the company, stressing that they only reacted to a petition from the workers of the Imo Transport Company (ITC), in which Anyanwu was accused of stealing about 160 of ITC vehicles.
“We are reacting to a petition from the workers of ITC, where Okafor Anyanwu worked. The petition bothers on 160 stolen vehicles belonging to the ITC. The Commissioner of Police (CP), Isaac Olutayo Akinmoyede, is investigating the matter. We have the mandate to do that,” he said,
Also reacting to the development, Modestus Nwanpka, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hope Uzodimma, said it was purely the affair of ITC workers, stressing that the management of ITC was in the best position to handle the matter.
GURDIAN
