The 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 to assuage their difficulties.
Governor Umahi made the pledge 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 agitation 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 familiarize with the Governor and Government of Ebonyi State and to cross fertilize 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 Industrial entrepreural people, Ebonyi is not left out in these attributes”
He commended the Governor for the massive transformation of the State with limited resources.
“When I came into Ebonyi many year ago, I saw only one road, if you are coming from Enugu, you see the Ezza road , if you are coming from Afikpo, at that time to come to Abakaliki from Amasiri, it would take you up to five hours to get to Abakaliki, as a DPO, before I could get to Abakaliki, it takes me up to two hours, why was it like that, because there was no roads, very bad but let me confess to you, Your Excellency, when I came here during the election in 2019, I couldn’t know anywhere here, I found a London in Nigeria, it speaks volumes and I don’t need to tell somebody that somebody has done a fantastic work.
“When I was coming from Enugu-Ogwu through Ohaozara, I saw a road construction on concrete that is a modern Technology in road building, I think that is the only one in Nigeria, I have never seen it elsewhere but in Ebonyi, thank you for that marvelous job”
The AIG pledged to partner with the Commissioner of Police to rid the State and zone off criminalities.
“Your Excellency sir, the situation is worrisome, it is a trying time and a challenging time needs a dogged person, I was not posted to zone 9 to sleep, we will not leave anything to chance, I want to assure Your Excellency that I will give Ebonyi a priority in Security”
The Governor also signed executive orders 001 and 002 of 2021 to acquire the 37 hectares disputed land in Enyigba and Enyibichiri and streamline processes for selection of town union leaders and Traditional Rulers in the State.
The Governor also swore in Dr. Richard Nnabo as Senior Special Assistant on Medical services and members of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Service Commission as well as members of the State Revenue Appeal Commission.
