Due to the Friday shooting to death of five police officers and a couple at the hands of unidentified gunmen, the Human Rights Writers Association has asked Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to withdraw from the contest for governor of the state.
According to reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on five police officers who were eating at a nearby eatery at the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state on Friday morning.
A couple named Mr. and Mrs. Chinaka Nwagu, who ran a store next to the crime scene, was also killed by the attackers.
In a statement released on Saturday, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the national coordinator for HURIWA, condemned the killings of the police officers and urged the governor of Imo State to withdraw from the governorship race and a second term in office.
“HURIWA condemns in strong terms the killings of the five policemen on Friday in Imo states and the serial murders of Imo youths.
“We condemn the intransigence of Gov Hope Uzodimma to opt for constructive dialogues with all the restive youths of Imo State. We call on the governor to step down from being on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress for a second term in order to save Imo from continuous killings.
“Gov Uzodimma, if he means well for the state, should announce that he won’t be running in the November governorship poll, then set up a reconciliation commission by offering apologies to families of all those killed including security operatives and civilians.
“He should also pay compensations where possible, offer amnesty and open avenues for peacebuilding through withdrawal and submission of arms by sundry armed groups. But the reconciliation must be sincere and pragmatic.”
The Imo State Police Command announced that they have begun a manhunt for the suspected gunmen in the meantime.
Henry Okoye, a state police spokesperson, stated that the Command has sent operational and tactical teams to the area in order to provide security and capture the shooters.
