I Didn’t Want The Orlu Situation To Be Another #EndSARS Tragedy – Hope Uzodinma

Posted by: Folamidavid in News, Politics Feb 23, 2021

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has come out to explain why he invited the military to Orlu.

He recently revealed this after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the invitation became necessary as the situation was beyond the capacity of the local arrangement, therefore he sees nothing wrong in the step he took.

The governor added that something had to be done to douse the uprising in Orlu district, so his action was only precautionary, especially with the experience and the destructions that followed the #EndSARS protests.

His words, “Well, the issue of bringing the military to Imo state? You recall, during the #EndSARS protests, a lot of properties were damaged in Imo state, police stations were burnt down, soldiers were killed, their rifles removed from them.”

“And immediately after the #EndSARS, we thought it was over. Then, issues of kidnapping, where you know, a Catholic bishop was kidnapped, who was killed. And this militants came out and begin to shoot. We’ve lost lives, market women were killed, old women were raped in Orlu area of Imo state and they visited this serious terror on the citizenry.”

“And they I came here (presidential villa), pleaded with Mr. President for his support and he sent additional support by sending in police and the military also came in. And that is where we are.”

“It was on my invitation that the military came. And I did that because I know the situation was beyond the local arrangement, we needed help. And the help was given to us.”

“And as I speak to you the situation has come down to normal, people are now going about their businesses. And those caught will soon be charged to court. And all those military riffles from the army, the police, AK 47, and so on, were recovered by the people that came.”

“We are a government, it is our responsibility to protect lives. And while we have the Nigerian Army, Nigerian police. We had security challenges, we invited them to go to work.”