Uzodinma: 70 percent of gunmen who attacked Imo not Igbo

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, says 70 percent of the gunmen who attacked the state are not Igbo.

He said over 400 people who caused mayhem in the state have been arrested and charged to court.

Gunmen had attacked security facilities in the state, including the police headquarters and the correctional centre in Owerri, the state capital.

In a statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, his chief press secretary, Uzodinma said most of the suspects are not persons of the Igbo extraction.

“Over 400 of those who carried out the threats on the state in the past have been arrested,” he said.

“The good thing is that over 70 percent of them are not Igbo. We will crush anybody that attempts to cause mayhem or attack Imo people again.

“Government cannot surrender to blackmailers, hoodlums, and perpetrators of violence.”

The governor warned those planning to visit the state with any form of violence to have a rethink as “government is more than ever ready and prepared to keep Imo safe and secured”.

Uzodinma called on the people to go about their business without fear of molestation or harassment.

“What happened in the past weeks will never repeat itself again,” he said.