Buhari seeks harsh measures in response to the killing of six Nigerians in the south-east

By Adeleye Kunle

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of terrorist attacks in the South-east on non-indigenes and law enforcement officials, promising all possible action in conducting a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Buhari’s reaction came in the wake of reports of the murder of six Nigerien citizens and the brutal killing of a number of police officers on the job.
On Monday, gunmen attacked a building in Orogwe, Owerri, Imo State, primarily occupied by Hausa, killing six Nigerians.

In addition, suspected gunmen killed two police officers, two expatriates, and two company drivers in Kogi State’s Ajaokuta Local Government Area.
When their Coaster bus was attacked, the gunmen abducted 14 Indians who were on their way home from work at West African Ceramics.

Another group of gunmen attacked and killed four police officers on duty at a newly built police station in Agwa community, Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State, bringing the total number of people killed in the two states to ten – six police officers and four civilians.
The Kogi State Police Command confirmed the heinous attack on Friday evening, and vowed to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the attack in order to bring the perpetrators to justice.

William Aya, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday.
“Following the attacks on expatriates of West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta and police escort at about 2000hrs of Friday 5th of August, 2022, the state Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, has visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment and has equally ordered the deployment of additional operational assets consisting of operatives of the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Quick Response Unit, State Intelligence Bureau in synergy,” the statement

“Meanwhile, two expatriates, two company drivers, and two police inspectors were killed in an exchange of fire with the hoodlums, before the Area Commander and a military detachment in the area reinforced the scene of the incident, and the attackers fled,” according to the statement.
Egbuka assured that the command is dedicated to collaborating with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the state a safe and secure environment for all.

He also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to launch an investigation into the unfortunate incident in order to determine the remote and immediate cause of the attack and apprehend the perpetrators.
Kingsley Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, said security agencies were working to ensure that the abducted children were rescued alive and that the cowards who abducted them were brought to justice.

“As a government accountable to the people, I wish to make the following statements concerning the breach of security in Ajaokuta Local Government Area and efforts to retain our people’s trust in protecting them,” he added.

He noted that the state is known for standing out in terms of ensuring the safety of not only residents but also visitors to the state, which shares borders with nine other states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, gunmen attacked and killed four police officers on duty at the newly constructed Agwa police station in Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area.

According to reports, the attackers set fire to the police station and destroyed the operational vehicles.
According to a community source who requested anonymity, four on-duty police officers were killed during the attack.
“Gunmen arrived around 12 a.m. last night with one tipper vehicle and two Sienna vehicles and launched an attack on our community police station, shooting sporadically,” he explained.

“Two policewomen were burned to death alongside two other police officers on duty; they also went to the house of one Okada rider known as Ejike in our village and shot him dead, injuring his wife, who is now critically ill as a result of the gunshot injury she sustained.”

“As I speak with you now, there is palpable fear and anxiety in my community; people are afraid for their lives, and many have fled to our neighboring communities for safety.”

Another source, who did not want his name used, said one of the slain cops had only been on the force for two weeks.
When contacted, the Imo State Police Command’s spokesman, Michael Abattam, a Chief Superintendent of Police, did not answer his phone.
In response to the incident in Imo State, Buhari yesterday condemned the killings of non-indigenes and law enforcement officials in the South-east by terrorists.

According to a statement signed by presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, the President has promised to take all necessary steps to conduct a prompt investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Shehu stated that the President’s reaction came in the aftermath of “the slaying of six Nigerien citizens and the brutal killing of a number of policemen on duty.”
The president urged the community and religious leaders to speak out more strongly against the killings.

“Those who know should point to specific individuals who did this,” the President was quoted as saying.
“He expressed his administration’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the southeast and throughout the country, saying that reports of killings anywhere were sad and unwelcome,” according to the statement.

The president expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the line of duty, as well as to the government and people of Niger Republic, whose citizens were brutally beheaded by the attackers.