MURDER OF PRIEST: Gov Ugwuanyi summons emergency meeting with security agencies

Following the killing of a Catholic priest in the state, the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has called an emergency meeting of all heads of security agencies, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders in the state.

The priest, Paul Offu, was shot dead on Thursday along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area by yet to be identified hoodlums. This is the latest of such attacks in the state.

A statement issued on Friday by the Secretary to the State Government, Simon Ortuanya, confirmed the development.

Briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting, the State Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, stated that they “condemned in totality the dastardly act and we all prayed that his soul rest in peace”, adding that the governor mandated the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous act.

Balarabe disclosed that the state government resolved to have air surveillance in all the flashpoint areas, stressing that the exercise will commence on Monday, August 5.

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The police commissioner added that the meeting resolved that the security architecture of the affected areas will be reviewed with immediate effect.

He said that the meeting observed with deep concern the proliferation of dangerous arms in the state, stating that those in possession of illegal weapons have been given three days to submit them to the police “and after which anybody found with illegal weapons will be dealt with in accordance with the law”.

Balarabe revealed that in keeping with the outcome of the recent meeting of the South East Governors Forum, the Enugu State Government resolved at the emergency meeting to employ the services of Forest Guards and equally strengthen the services of the Neighborhood Watch groups in the state.

Earlier, the Enugu State Government had condoled with the family of the late Rev. Fr. Offu and the entire Catholic Diocese of Enugu over the painful death.

In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the state government noted that the priest’s death “represents another ugly manifestation of security challenges in the entire country- East, West, North and South.”

The state government in the statement summoned a crucial meeting of all local vigilante and Neigbourhood Watch groups with the governor at the Government House, Enugu, on August 5 at 1pm.

It also notified the public of planned air surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force along Ihe –Agbudu axis, Awgu, Aninri, Nkanu East Local Government Areas and their environs and enjoined citizens not to panic in the course of the exercise.

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