The Imo State Police Command have arrested about 15 people who allegedly attacked the convoy of Governor Hope Uzodimma on Monday.
The Governor was on his way to the 34 Attilary Brigade, Obinze, to inaugurate an officers mess built by the state government when the incident happened.
Armed with machetes and guns, the attackers claimed they are members of staff of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), protesting non-payment of their salaries and other welfare.
Police commissioner in the state, Isaac Akinmoyede, said the suspects claimed they were ISOPADEC employees who were “owed three months’ salary”.
According to the commissioner, they were arrested with one locally-made pistol, two machetes, a mask, a chain and a padlock.
He stated: “They attacked the vehicles in the convoy with a locally made pistol and machetes.”
“But in the process, windscreens of some of the vehicles in the convoy were smashed and the vehicles damaged.”
Akinmoyede said the suspects have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said the fact that people claiming to be the staff of ISOPADEC could arm themselves with guns and matchets validated the state’s position that most of the protests were politically-motivated.
“The opposition is smarting from the irredeemable shame the government’s successes is rubbing on their face.
“They quickly thought of another protest to take the shine out off the increasingly unbeatable trajectory of Governor Uzodimma’s success stories. But, luck ran out of luck this time,” Emelumba said.
The commissioner further said the opposition, rattled by the public ovation that greeted the governor’s successful commissioning of new roads in Owerri last Friday, must have hired the thugs.
He asked the police to unmask those sponsoring the attackers and the real motive behind the action of the hoodlums.
