Members of the House of Representatives from Imo State called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for the immediate release of an Imo State-based journalist, Comrade Nonso Nkwa, who was reportedly whisked away recently by the Imo State Command.
Addressing the media in Abuja on behalf of others, the Member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, urged President Bola Tinubu to pay special attention to developments in Imo State.
The lawmakers also urged the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to stop playing politics with security in the state.
They called for the unconditional release of Nkwa and demanded a reshuffling of the heads of the various security agencies in the state.
According to them, Governor Uzodimma has allegedly weaponised insecurity in the state, and it has become a usual practice for the state government to label anyone with opposing views as a security threat.
Hon Ugochinyere said, “On behalf of members of the House of Representatives from Imo State, we had our meeting yesterday and we want to talk about recent developments in Imo State, where a foremost journalist, Nonso Nkwa, was abducted by security men who turned out to be men of the Nigeria Police Force.
He has been taken to Abuja based on a petition allegedly written by the government of Hope Uzodimma.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on the new IGP. In Imo, maybe you are not aware, we have a government of tyranny that clamps down on people with opposing views.
We have a government that uses unorthodox means to quell security problems and ends up inflaming the situation. We have a state government in which top officials have been involved in acts that threaten the peace and security of citizens.
“When people talk about the security situation in Imo, it is not that we are playing politics with it. It is Governor Hope Uzodimma that is playing politics with it. I remember last time when he was quarrelling with Rochas Okorocha, he said Rochas Okorocha is the one behind unknown gunmen. Now, when they reconciled, he turned around to say it is Uche Nwosu.
“When they reconciled, we didn’t hear of it again. When he started having problems with Chief Ihedioha, he said Ihedioha is the one behind the insecurity. Later he abandoned that one. At a point, he said it is Gerald Irona. At one point, he said I am the one behind insecurity in the state.
“The government is using issues of insecurity to be playing petty politics. There is nothing on security that the government should be taken seriously by any reasonable person.”
Ugochinyere added, “I am using this opportunity to call on the DSS and the police and Mr President to please intervene in the arrest of Nnoso Nkwa and ensure that he is released. If you say he has committed an offence, the right thing to do is charge him in Court.
“You do not have any reason to hold Nnoso Nkwa more than the constitutionally stipulated time. These are things that are causing problems all over West Africa, why people are getting involved in coups and so on and so forth; because leaders tend to abuse the democratic process, tend to abuse human rights. If you say he committed an offence, the right thing to do is not to flex muscles.
“I am appealing to the heads of security agencies to be careful when they are handling issues from Imo State because we have a governor who has weaponised insecurity and using it to secure chief political points. That is why I am calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Nonso Nkwa.
“It is time to reshuffle all the heads of security agencies in Imo State. I am calling on the President to pay special attention to development in Imo.”
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