Ebonyi to compensate families of officers killed by unknown gunmen

From  Adaeze Onuora Aroh

Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi has pledged to provide compensation to families of Police officers who have lost their lives due to activities of unknown gunmen.

Governor Umahi made the pledge on Wednesday, while playing host to the new Assistant Inspector General of Police in-charge of Zone nine, AIG  Ene Okon, at Exco Chambers, Old Government House, Abakaliki.

The governor while congratulating the new AIG, promised to always support the police to achieve maximum security of lives and property of citizens.

“Let me first congratulate you for this wonderful appointment. Let me thank you very much my own Commissioner of Police. This CP is God’s gift and he is very experienced and he is straight forward. He has done extremely well.

“I condemn very seriously the killing of police officers and burning of police stations, burning of two INEC offices yesterday in Ezza North and Ebonyi Local Government Areas.

“We played into the hands of the restive youths because there was a number of agitations they were making at the national level about how people from the South East were treated and when those things were repeated, our people got the impression that they were fighting for the interest of the people and that we are not welcome in the project in Nigeria but we, governors of South East believe in one Nigeria where fairness, justice, equity and fair play do take place. We do not want to secede as a people, we want to be treated nicely just like other regions.

“We will support the police very seriously, we have been supporting them, we will continue to support them. Each time their police stations are burnt or when the officers are killed, I feel very bad, and I want to assure the AIG that I will compensate the families of the slain officers”

Earlier, the new AIG of Zone 9, AIG Ene Okon said he was in the state to familiarise with the governor and Government of Ebonyi State and to cross fertilise ideas on how to tackle security challenges in the zone.

The new AIG expressed sadness that Ebonyi State and South East Zone that were known for peace and tolerance have suddenly turned violent due to the activities of the unknown gunmen.

“My visit to you, Your Excellency, is very timely and it is apt. Just yesterday, the Inspector General of Police launched the Operation Restore Peace in the South Eastern part of the country, therefore, I bring you   hope and good tidings. Historically, the people of the South East are known to be very peaceful people, tolerant people, innovative and industrious entrepreneurial  people. Ebonyi is not left out in these attributes” He commended the governor for the massive transformation of the state with limited resources.