The Abia State Government has denied allegations that Governor Dr. Alex Otti approved the involvement of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) Eastern Security Network (ESN) to confront Fulani herdsmen and protect Abia farmers.
Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, described the report as malicious and misleading, aimed at creating disaffection and unnecessary tension in the state.
Ekeoma stated that the government had intentionally ignored a similar false report issued a few weeks prior but felt compelled to respond to the latest statement to prevent innocent citizens from falling prey to the fabrication.
“The authors of the statement had issued a similar FAKE statement a few weeks ago, but we intentionally ignored them, however, we feel it has become necessary for the government to respond to the latest statement so that innocent and unsuspecting members of the public will not fall prey to such a dubious fabrication.
For the records, the government of Abia State under the leadership of Dr. Alex Otti could not have contemplated embracing the services of none-state actors to fight criminals and insecurity of any kind in any part of the state.
The state government expressed confidence in various security agencies which led to the establishment of the state’s joint security taskforce codenamed “Operation Crush”.
He stressed that the joint taskforce has recorded tremendous success in the entire state and has kept the state safe and secure, in spite of skeletal cases of armed robbery and kidnapping which the government is working assiduously to completely eliminate.
“Those who have decided to play dirty politics by inciting fear and violence against the state and its citizens, not minding the danger they pose to the lives and properties of Abians, should know that their actions will attract severe consequences whenever they are caught.”
The government enjoined Abia residents to ignore the false statement and see it as another move by desperate enemies of the state to present it in bad light for their selfish agenda.
