Owerri Easter mayhem: Odinkalu faults Uzodinma’s “aggrieved politicians” claim

The former chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has expressed reservation over the claim by the Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma respecting the recent mayhem during the Easter holidays in Owerri, the state capital.

Recall that heavily armed unknown gunmen had stormed the Imo State Police Command Headquarters, ransacked the Armory and set the building on fire along with some 36 cars.

The marauding band, thereafter, proceeded to the Nigeria Correctional Center holding some 1,800 detainees and inmates and released them.

They also set the place on fire.

The band finally went to the Government House which is just a stormed throw and sang and danced in front of the building for about thirty minutes before disappearing into thin air.

The whole operation reportedly lasted about three hours.

After the incidence, Governor Uzodinma accused “aggrieved politicians”, pinpointedly “a former governor” of the state, evidently referring to Senator Rochas Okorocha who vacated the Douglas House” in May 2019, as masterminds of the attack.

On his part, the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), for the attacks.

Reacting, Prof. Odinkalu disagreed with Governor Uzodinma who seems clueless as to the masterminds and reason behind the attack.

In a post made on his Twitter handle, Odinkalu said:

“First we were told IPOB did Owerri Easter Mayhem.

“Next Governorm Hope Uzodinma says it’s “aggrieved politicians”.

“Now we’re told it was by “Ex-Governor”.

He, however, observed as follows:

1. There has been no investigation.

2. There are no names.

3. We do not know why 34 Field Artillery Brigade [a Nigerian Army facility less than ten minutes drive] sat idle.

With the post, Odinkalu chorused the voice of several Nigerians who are at a loss over the attacks and their masterminds.

In the meantime, IPOB has denied involvement in the attack.

A self-acclaimed Commander in the Eastern Security Network (ESN) leadership, one Osita Nwokosisi, has also refuted “claims”that the group, in conjunction with the mother group—IPOB, are behind the attacks.

Nwokosisi stated categorically that ESN cannot kill fellow Igbos or security agents, adding ‘we are not mad men.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook