Abia vows to intensify efforts against criminals

Abia State Government has vowed that it will not allow criminal elements to destroy the modest achievements made so far under the administration of Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Kanu, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

He said that the state government has zero tolerance for criminal activities and would not condone it, explaining that armed criminal elements Monday morning engaged security personnel at Aba.

“Earlier today, criminal elements engaged the security personnel in a gunfight at Umuode community, along the  Port Harcourt -Enugu Express Road, and later at Umuojima in Osisioma where they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the security forces.

“In the ensuing  gunfight, one of the gunmen was neutralized, while others escaped with varying degrees of  gunshot injuries”

The commissioner further said that one of the vehicles belonging to the criminal elements, a Highlander vehicle was abandoned by the fleeing gunmen and is now under the custody of the security agencies.

He said that credible intelligence reports showed that the hoodlums were on the prowl to cause mayhem in the state and urged members of the public to be vigilant.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Uba (retd.) said the state government has reviewed its strategies in the fight against crime and criminality.

“So my assurance is that going forward, it’s going to be a different ball game in the fight to rid our state of all kinds of criminal elements.

“There was  no loss on the side of the security agents.”

He assured that the game has changed as it is no longer business as usual, adding that the security agencies were on the trail of the fleeing criminals.

Recall that in an effort to curtail crime associated with motorcycles and tricycles in the state,  the state had announced plans to enumerate and re-register tricycles and motorcycles in the state.

The government noted that the essence of the registration and restriction was to secure lives and property of innocent citizens and residents of the state.