Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has accused opposition politicians, in collaboration with external support, of sponsoring lingering violence in Abia State.
The Governor said the attacks, including the killing of soldiers and police are aimed at destabilizing the government and distract her from its development agenda
This is coming amidst rising gunmen attacks and violence in the State, which has raised fears among residents and security officials.
Didactic Information Hut recalls that on Wednesday, 13, November two Nigerian soldiers were killed at a checkpoint on the Umuahia-Owerri Road in Ekeneobizi, Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.
Similarly on Sunday, November 16, gunmen killed a police officer during an assault on the convoy of a Nigerian lawmaker, Hon Ginger Onwusibe.
Although the Federal Government had consistently accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of orchestrating the violence with IPOB denying any involvement, Governor Otti said politicians are responsible for the attacks.
In a recent statement by his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti revealed that his administration has uncovered that opposition politicians in the state, rather than IPOB, are responsible for sponsoring the attacks.
He said the violence started in late May and has continued to escalate as part of a strategy to disrupt his administration’s focus on development.
“The sole agenda is to cause disaffection and distract the government from its focus on the development of the state,” Otti said.
He added that the opposition’s efforts to fabricate lies against the government had failed, and now, they were resorting to violence.
Governor Otti further vowed that his administration would not allow any group or individual to destabilize the peace in Abia State.
He stated that a “counter-offensive” was being launched to eliminate the terror structures set up by criminals.
“It needs to be understood that the government will not sit idly by and watch any person or group of persons unleash violence on innocent and peace-loving citizens of the state,” he asserted.