Attack: CUPP Calls For Removal Of Imo Police Boss

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has released video footage of the third attack on the country home of its spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, by unknown gunmen on February 7, 2023.

According to CUPP, this third attack is coming less than a month after the second attack on January 14 where four people were killed including his uncle and property including houses and over 32 vehicles worth over N1 billion destroyed.

It said the CCTV also televised live on local TV channel, showed the men armed with guns, machetes charms and other dangerous weapons invading the house in commando style and when they could not find Ikenga in the house resorted to terrorising occupants of the house, stealing property, planting incriminating items and destruction of property, including bursting overhead water tanks and industrial size generators.

The group in a press statement in Abuja, also accused the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma and the Commissioner of Police Imo State of knowing more than they are willing to say about the attack.

It alleged that from among the attackers, men of the Imo state Police Command, Ebubeagu Network and at least one officer from the Force Intelligence and Investigation Bureau were identified from the video.

They called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately investigate the attack so as to unravel the mystery behind unknown gunmen in the state.

Deputy spokesperson of the Coalition, Mr Mark Adebayo, also accused Imo Police Commissioner of colluding with the ruling party in the state to seize voter education and campaign materials belonging to Ikenga and the PDP as well as detaining and torturing those in possession of the materials for six days without charging them to court or releasing them.

He, however, said the lawyer who went to secure the bail of the arrested people was also arrested and detained but was released after three days.

Adebayo said the Imo Police boss shielded those responsible for voter register manipulation but only went ahead to charge innocent INEC staff to court and action which has been struck out by the court for lack of evidence.

CUPP called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately redeploy Mr Mohammed Ahmed Barde.

They further called on the IGP to restrict Governor Uzodimma from coming to Ideato on election day as he had promised to spend the day in that constituency on 25th February.

CUPP called on both local and foreign election observers as well as foreign missions to note Ideato as a flash point for possible election-related violence due to the activities of Governor Hope Uzodimma and his party.

Both the Police and the state government were yet to react to allegations.

Source: Blueprint Newspaper

Attack: CUPP calls for removal of Imo police boss