Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi state on Wednesday ordered security agencies in the state to shoot any person caught terrorizing the state with illegal firearms.
The directive came as a result of the incessant attacks and rise violent crimes in some parts of the state.
Umahi who was visibly angry when he visited Agbaja communities in Izzi local government area to sympathize with the victims, called on the youths to organize themselves and defend women and their families from further attacks.
Blueprint however gathered that two persons were killed and over 20 houses burnt.
He urged the state commissioner of Police to withdraw all illegal police attachment to any politician in the state, stressing that if the attacks continues, he would order the youths to beat up any politician seen going about with security guards.
The governor blamed the leaders of Izzi as responsible for the violence in the community, warning also that if they don’t curb the incessant attack in the area, he would turn and set the youths against them and their homes.
“I am the Chief security officer of Ebony state. I want to order security agencies to shoot-at-sight any person bearing illegal firearms which he is using to attack Ebonyi people. I want the commissioner of Police to withdraw all illegal policemen attached to some politicians in the state. The leaders of Izzi clan are the ones causing the crisis. Youths of Izzi should unite and come together to protect their mothers, younger ones and themselves too.
“If you arrest any person with gun, break the person’s hands, legs and tie him to the police station. I want the security agencies to be ruthless to any person who attacks innocent and lawn abiding citizens in the state. If this violence and attack continue, I will order the arrest of all the leaders of Izzi no matter the person or his relationship with the president, Umahi warned.
On his part, the speaker of Ebonyi state House of Assembly Rt Hon Francis Nwifuru who is from the area said both members of the All Progressives party (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are responsible for the attacks.
“Your Excellency, people say that I am stubborn and I want to agree that I am stubborn because I am performing. If I am not performing, nobody would have said I am stubborn. The crisis here was caused by PDP and APC. It was some members of PDP who are playing anti party activities; that are responsible for the attacks. The perpetrators are not real APC members”, the Speaker said.
