Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has allocated N185 million to more than eleven families of security officers affected by an assault from unidentified gunmen in the Umualumaku community, Ehime Mbano Council area.
According to Uzodinma’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguike Neachukwu, the event took place at the Government House in Owerri.
The names of the officers were given as “Those who died and were compensated include; Isaac Yakubu and Mr. Samson Edeh of NDELA; Ezeagu Emeka Tobias of NSCDC; Abraham Anas of Nigerian Air Force and Abas Ejiofor of the Nigerian Police.
“The injured officers include; Ibrahim Abubakar, Umeh Lawrence, Akwaraji Charles, Abubakar Haruna, Inspector Odukwe, Onyekachi Ndubuisi, and others.”
At the time of the incident, community eyewitnesses initially cited eight affected security officers. Subsequently, security operatives asserted that the count was limited to five officers. However, on the day of compensating the deceased officers, the number of affected officers surpassed eleven.
However, according to the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, “In an emotion-laden voice, the Governor who remembered how the security agents put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of the State not only prayed to God to grant their various families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss but also to grant the survivors quick recovery from the injuries they are currently nursing.
“The Governor noted that the occasion has brought to the fore the situation of insecurity in Imo State “as being beyond what people think and goes a long way to showcase the problems and the negative impact inflicted on the State.”
“The Governor recalled that this is not the first time the State Government has appreciated those who died or were injured while carrying out their assigned duties and promised to continue to show love to the families and agencies affected so that they will continue to discharge their duties without fear or discouragement.
“He said though he is aware that the Federal Government and the Security Agencies have different compensation plans for their personnel, “this is an opportunity to appreciate the invaluable jobs the security agencies, that is, the Police, Army, Air Force, Navy, NDELA, Civil Defence and other Para-Military Agencies are doing in Imo State.”
“Governor Uzodinma proceeded to announce that the Government will give out N185 million to those affected and prayed God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, “and the repose of the souls of those that paid the supreme price to their fatherland,” he stated.
Kanyi Daily recalls that Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had won the 2023 Gubernatorial election in Imo State.