Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo and Chairman of the Forum, called the attack “unfortunate” when speaking to reporters in Owerri on Thursday.
The incident at the checkpoint at Aba in Abia on Thursday morning that claimed the lives of two soldiers has been denounced by the South East Governors’ Forum.
The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are said to have carried out the attack at Obikabia intersection in Aba with the intention of enforcing the sit-at-home policy.
As they enforced the sit-at-home order in observance of Biafra Day, they also set fire to security patrol cars.
Sen. Hope Uzodimma, the governor of Imo and Chairman of the Forum, called the attack “unfortunate” when speaking to reporters in Owerri on Thursday.
Addressing newsmen in Owerri on Thursday, Chairman of the Forum, and Imo governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, described the attack as “unfortunate”.
“On behalf of my brother governor’s in the South East Governors’ Forum, I condemn that incident and loss of the lives of soldiers who were on their duty posts.
“Without any provocation, they were attacked by the men of the underworld.
“The unfortunate thing is that it is going to act as a major set back to the peace process being pursued by the governors from the zone with the Federal Government, security agencies and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of security in the region,” he said.
According to him, the incident will also portray our people in bad light as if we do not have sympathy for human beings.
The governor condoled the Chief of Army Staff and the families of soldiers, who lost their lives in the unfortunate incident.
“We here in the South East will ensure that we leave no stone unturned to ensure peace in the region needed for development,” he added.
Uzodimma urged security agencies to go all out to ensure that those behind the dastardly act were caught and prosecuted.
He noted that people of the South East, out of fear of the unknown and memories of the past, obeyed the directive of the proscribed group.
He urged them, particularly those in Imo, to find courage and understand that a lot had gone to providing security for them.
“We have peace in Imo; I want people to go about their businesses without fear of being molested by anyone.
“We are after the perpetrators. Those who think we shouldn’t live should not live,” he said. (NAN)