Some members of the House of Representatives from Imo State have decried the alleged extrajudicial killings, rights violation and destruction of property by security operatives following the murder of a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, last Sunday, by gunmen on his way to the airport in Owerri, the state capital.
The lawmaker representing Ahiazu/Ezinitte Federal Constituency, Hon Chinedu Martins; and Hon Bede Eke, who is representing Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala Federal Constituency, both in Imo State, raised the alarm separately, yesterday.
Martins, in a statement titled, ‘A Call for Peace in Imo State’, noted that whole mistake, which is a natural phenomenon, might have been made, “it is still painful and unacceptable to be witnessing through the media, such wanton destruction and gruesome killings, especially the gory sights of lifeless bodies of our beloved ones.”
The lawmaker cited the cases of “such as the young and promising Chidiebere Emereuwa of the Nigeria Air Force, a native of Obizi in my constituency, who was reportedly killed at a check-point near Akachi Junction; another ugly incident of a Germany-based Unachukwu, who allegedly died after being shot on the head at a military check-point near Sam Mbakwe Airport while trying to catch a flight; and of course, the wicked and gruesome murder of an APC chieftain, Ahmed Gulak, who was reportedly in the state a national assignment.”
The statement partly read, “I am deeply pained with the recent happenings in our dear Imo State, where the unthinkable is happening with innocent lives being decimated, business activities crumbling and properties worth billions in naira destroyed with reckless abandon.
“It is not only regrettable that such unfortunate development ensued, but our inability to nip it in the bud before it escalates beyond human control, which is attributable to the confusion in the body-politics that made it extremely difficult for individuals with genuine concern to step-in.
“Such situation always calls for restraint in order not to be misquoted by our motley and overzealous politicians who are always in a haste to wrongly decorate every action including things as sacrosanct as human lives, with partisan coloration.
“However, as a bona-fide citizen of Imo State who is not only in shock but deeply worried, and in my capacity as a representative of the people whose lives are being cut short, I have no other choice than to speak up.”