The Government of Abia State says it has uncovered plots by renegade members of a non-state group to attack and kidnap prominent persons in the State, including public office holders, traditional rulers, members of the clergy, and hold them as human shield and ransom for negotiations.
This was made known in a release by the Commissioner for Information in the State, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and issued to journalists in Umuahia on Sunday night.
According to the Government, “while we strongly admonish those behind the dastardly plot to desist from it, we advise such high profile personalities mentioned above to exercise utmost vigilance while going about their normal duties as security agents in the country are on the trail of the arrowheads of the plot with a view to nipping it in the bud and bring those involved to justice”.
The Abia Government further appealed to all citizens and visitors to keep their focus on maintaining the existing peace in the State and avoid acts that are capable of reversing the gains it has made collectively in securing the State through the understanding and cooperation of all.
In the meantime, Wogu Alozie, a director in the Abia State Ministry of Education has been arrested by men of Nigeria police over illegal collection of five hundred naira from students of Primary and Secondary schools in the State without the approval of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
This was announced in a release signed by Professor ACB Agbazure, the Chief of Staff to the Abia Governor and issued to Daily Post in Umuahia, the state capital on Sunday.
The Abia Government advised those who paid salaries, hide under the cover of government to defraud people or engage in other forms of corruption, in their own interest, to have a rethink or be prepared taste the sour waters of the law.
The release partly said, “Abia State Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D. is greatly appalled that one Wogu Alozie, a Director in the Ministry of Education wrote letters to Primary and Secondary Schools in the State, collecting ₦500 from every student without the approval of the Governor.
“The said Wogu Alozie who signed for the Permanent Secretary without the consent of the said Permanent Secretary, has owned up to the illicit act and is presently with the Police to completely unmask the syndicate”.
