October 20, (THEWILL) – The Imo State Police Command has denied knowledge of the fatal Tuesday meeting of traditional rulers at Njaba local government council in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini. disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, CSP Mike Abattam.
THEWILL had reported that two traditional rulers were killed at the stakeholders meeting after unknown assailants invaded the meeting.
According to CSP Abattam, “Since hoodlums razed Njaba Police Division and killed two officers, only policemen on vehicular patrol were posted to the area to help check crime.
“When the command got wind of the attack, the commissioner of police mobilised the command’s tactical unit to the meeting venue to foil the attack.
“At about 3 p.m., information was received that hoodlums, suspected to be members of the proscribed Independent People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) were attacking the venue.
“It was at where the Transitional Chairman of Njaba Local Government Council, Mr Emeka Ihenacho, was holding meeting with some transitional rulers.
“The commissioner of police immediately dispatched the command’s tactical teams to the scene and on their arrival they were informed that the hoodlums had fled into the bush on sighting the police.
“At the scene, it was revealed that the council’s transitional chairman had invited and was having meeting with 15 traditional rulers of Njaba communities without informing the police or other security agencies.
“While the meeting was in progress, bandits suspected to be IPOB/ESN members came and started shooting at them indiscriminately, after which they ran back into the bush.
“Hussaini commiserated with the bereaved families and assured that the fleeing bandits would be arrested and prosecuted.”
