The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has compensated the families of the security men killed in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state a few months ago.
Gunmen had ambushed the security agents, killed some and razed their operational vehicles.
A statement in Owerri, the state capital on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Oguwike Nwachuku, disclosed that the governor gave out the sum of N185m to the families of the slain security agents.
The statement read, “Governor Hope Uzodimma has compensated the security agents who were killed in an ambush by unknown gunmen at the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State in the course of carrying out their duties, doling out N185m to the families of the deceased as well as to those who survived the attacks.
“Governor Uzodimma appreciated the fallen heroes and those of them who sustained various degrees of injuries in the course of the attack, working as operatives of the ‘Search and Flush Operations.’
“Addressing the audience, the governor who remembered how the security agents put their lives on the line to protect the citizens of the state not only prayed God to grant their various families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss but also to grant the survivors quick recovery from the injuries they are currently nursing.”
The governor was said to have recalled that that was not the first time the state government was appreciating those who died or were injured while carrying out their assigned duties and promised to continue to show love to the families and agencies affected so that they would continue to discharge their duties without fear or discouragement.
Furthermore, the governor Uzodimma proceeded to announce that the government would give out N185m to those affected and prayed God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, and the repose of the souls of those that paid the supreme price to their fatherland.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Cosmas Iwu, said “the attacks and killings of security agencies will not deter them from fighting against insecurity and restoring peace in the state,” vowing that the “government will continue to support the families and the various security outfits in the state.”
Those who died and whose families were compensated were Isaac Yakubu and Mr. Samson Edeh of the Nigeria Drug Law Emergency Authority; Ezeagu Emeka Tobias of the NSCDC; Abraham Anas of the Nigerian Air Force and Abas Ejiofor of the Nigeria Police.
Among the injured officers included Ibrahim Abubakar, Umeh Lawrence, Akwaraji Charles, Abubakar Haruna, Inspector Odukwe, and Onyekachi Ndubuisi.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the others, a survivor, Umeh Lawrence of the Nigerian Immigration Service, thanked Uzodimma, the government and people of Imo State for the compensation and the various support for the security agencies, families and well-wishers.
He promised that they would not relent in their assigned responsibilities, but would continue to discharge their duties gallantly.
Among top government officials at the ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku; Deputy Governor-elect, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru; the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe and other lawmakers, members of Imo State Expanded Executive Council, Eze Imo, HRM, Eze Emmanuel Okeke and principal officers of the security and para-military agencies in the state.
