The government of Abia State says it has uncovered plots by yet-to-be known persons to hide under the guise of protesters against the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy of the federal government to disrupt the peace in the state.
According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner of Information, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu claimed that the group also planned to hide under the planned protest to loot shops and other properties of innocent citizens and residents of the state.
Kalu who insisted that the state government would not lease any part of the state for the purpose of RUGA stated that it has not negotiated with any person or group of persons over the release of its land for RUGA.
The State government while warning that it would not fold its arms to watch its innocent citizens attacked by any group under any guise disclosed that the law enforcement agencies have been put on alert to deal decisively with those seeking to disrupt the existing peace in the State.
“Abia State Government has uncovered plots by hoodlums to disrupt the peace, loot shops and other properties in the State under the guise of protesting against RUGA settlements in Abia and other South East States.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that we do not have lands for RUGA or any similar settlement in Abia, hence, have not provided or negotiated with any individual, group or institution concerning it.
“In fact, our government has proactively gone ahead to set up the ministry of homeland security with a substantive commissioner to further strengthen the security of lives and property of citizens and residents of the State as well as curtail any possibility of farmers-herdsmen clashes.
“We, therefore, wish to warn those behind the plots to attack innocent persons and loot people’s properties under whatever guise to desist from that path as law enforcement agencies have been put on full alert to deal decisively with those seeking to disrupt the existing peace in the State.”
In a related development, the Abia State Police Command has warned residents and citizens of the state against holding any protest in any part of the state without police clearance.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Ene Okon in a released issued on his behalf by the Police Spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said that while the police isn’t against any person or group of persons to exercise their Fundamental Human Rights as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he said that such action should be carried out in line with the extant provisions of the Constitution.
“Any person or group of persons intending to do so must notify the Commissioner of Police in writing at least 48 hours to the time, stating date, place of the convergence, the commencement, routes to follow and termination point.”
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The Police Command while stating that the security agency would not fold its arms and watch any person or group of persons truncate the existing peace and tranquility in the state, disclosed that the reason it requested to be notified is for the police to provide adequate security to the protesters and also to prevent miscreants or hoodlums from hijacking the process to unleash mayhem on perceived oppositions or loot properties.
