Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has condemned the recent flurry of attacks in the state, warning against playing politics with security challenges.
Okorocha, who is the current Imo West Senator blamed the attacks on poverty and injustice in the state and called on the government to urgently address the situation.
He made the submission in Jos, Plateau State, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Mrs. Felicia Biskanga according to his media office.
Okorocha noted that at the moment, security forces are “fighting the symptoms and not the disease” and urged political leaders at all levels to address the ugly situation before the security challenges in the country get out of hand completely.
In his words, “the recent attack on the police headquarters, the Correctional Centres in Imo State, the unending herdsmen crisis and banditry, Boko Haram, kidnappings, these are all products of poverty and injustice.”
TrackNews Online recalls gunmen on Monday, stormed the Nigerian Correctional Services and the Police Headquarters in Imo State, razed down buildings and vehicles and freed thousands of inmates.
Other attacks on police stations have also been recorded in the state after Monday’s incident.
Reacting, Okorocha decried the growing spate of violence and called for urgent and decisive actions to be taken.
“Time has come for we as political leaders to tell ourselves the truth and address this ugly situation and help our men and women of the Armed Forces and the police who are currently fighting the symptoms and not the disease. Something must be done urgently too,” he added.
In a related development, the Nigerian Army on Thursday began a show of force in Imo following the recent gun attack in the southeast state.
It was gathered that the show of force was intended to boost the morale of security agents and to restore the confidence of the people in the security agents.
“The operation show of force is a military exercise targeted at restoring the confidence of the people in the security agencies.
“It is also a way of raising the morale of the operatives after Monday’s deadly attacks. It is a reassurance that the security agents have the capacity and capability to enforce public order and decorum,” a source told The Punch.
