TO ensure government flushed out remnants of criminal activities in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area and enhance the safety and security of the people, Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, yesterday, launched a series of coordinated onslaughts against assailants and criminal elements.
This led to security operatives arresting scores of suspects bearing dangerous weapons in some of the forests in the area.
The governor, who warned against self-help by some community members, said anybody or group of persons found inciting and encouraging self-help would be dealt with according to the extant laws of the land.
He insisted that his administration would not condone people taking laws into their hands as, according to him, that falls short of all known civilised and legal norms.
While suing for peace among Adani, Igga and other neighbouring communities in the council area who have been engaging on reprisal attacks over communal land disputes, Governor Mbah, during an unscheduled visit to both Adani and Igga communities in Uzo Uwani LGA late Sunday, announced that his administration had already offered scholarships and job opportunities to the children and wives of the two slain police officers and three Neighbourhood Watch operatives.
The five operatives lost their lives in an ambush on Friday at Ada Rice farm settlement by suspected criminals engaged by Igga community to carry out attacks on innocent civilian population.
He said security of lives and property remained the top priority of his administration, and vowed that the ongoing operations involving combined teams of security operatives, including the police, the Department of State Services, DSS, the military and members of the Neighbourhood Watch groups, would continue until the area was completely rid of criminal elements. He warned those responsible for the heinous crimes to submit themselves or face the full wrath of the law. “One thing I can assure you today is that we’ll apprehend all the criminals responsible for this attack. We’ll make sure they face the full wrath of the law as we’ll not spare anyone involved in the crime,” he said.
Governor Mbah, who also visited the Ada Rice Settlement, further warned the communities against taking the laws into their hands, saying grievances and challenges must be channeled to the constituted authorities for amica-