ABIA GOVERNMENT DISTANCES SELF FROM ENGAGING ESN TO FIGHT CRIME IN THE STATE

Following the incessant farmers herders clash in the South East and the seemingly inaction of the authorities to stem the tide, social media and online platforms went agog, alleging the engagement of the proscribed IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN), by the Abia State government to fight the menace.

Responding to this, Abia State Government described as malicious and misleading.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma on Sunday, the State Government recalled that the authors of the statement had issued a similar fake statement few weeks ago, stressing that the government intentionally ignored them.

He reaffirmed the position of the state government under the leadership of Dr. Alex Otti, saying the governor could not have thought of engaging none-state actors to fight criminals and insecurity of any kind in any part of the state, insisting that the State Government places confidence in various security agencies which also led to the establishment of the state’s joint security taskforce codenamed “Operation Crush”.

Ekeoma also revealed that the joint taskforce has recorded tremendous success in the entire state and has kept the state safe and secure despite pockets of armed robbery and kidnapping which the government is working tirelessly to completely eliminate.

The statement further reminded 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 property of Abians, that their actions will attract severe consequences whenever they are caught.

However, it enjoined residents of the State to ignore the false statement and view it as another move by desperate enemies of the state to present it in bad light for their selfish agenda.

“The attention of Abia State government has been drawn to a post by a faceless blogger alleging that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has approved the involvement of IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) to confront Fulani Herdsmen and Protect Abia farmers, following the continued inaction of Nigerian Security Forces”.

“It’s important to state that the above statement is false, malicious and misleading, and has nothing to do with the Abia state government led by Governor Alex Otti. The post is intended to create disaffection and cause unnecessary tention in the state.”

The statement continued, “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 non-state actors to fight criminals and insecurity of any kind in any part of the state”, it concluded.