By: Imo Thomas -Umuahi.
Operation Crush, Abia state crime interventionist outfit,has neutralized cult war clash in Umuahia, that resulted in the death of one alleged cultist and the arrest of another cultist involved in the cult war
Abia state commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this clarification on what led to the security breach on Sunday evening at Imo lane,near the popular ‘Isi-gate’in Umuahia, while briefing newsmen at the Government House on the outcome of this week’s EXCO meeting chaired by Dr. Alex Otti on Monday evening.
He said that the rumors been fabricated in the social media that Operation Crush killed an innocent person is untrue.
According to the Commissioner,
“just yesterday, here in Umuahia, there were security breaches involving some cult groups in the state.
“According to police reports, a resident around Imo Lane, off Uzuakoli Road was macheted by a cult group. The incident attracted the attention of Operation Crush through a tip-off by a patriotic resident.
“When Operation Crush officers arrived the area, the cult members took to their heels. Unfortunately, one of the fleeing cult members was hit by a bullet supposedly shot into the air to scare the cultists.
“Operation Crush succeeded in arresting a member of a gang who is currently in the custody of the police and is helping the police with their investigations,” Prince Kanu stated.
The Commissioner said that the state government would not have bothered to react to the fake news making the rounds on some online platforms following the death of one of the cultists in Umuahia on Sunday but for the misleading narratives surrounding the incident.
“The sponsors of such reports want to mislead members of the public into believing that Operation Crush shot at an innocent bystander or citizen.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. We will keep the media informed about further developments in the matter”
He disclosed that one of the cultists who was arrested by Operation Crush and found to be carrying a gun is in police custody while the victim who was macheted is receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital while the fleeing cultist who was hit by a bullet has been deposited in the morgue, adding that the police is continuing with investigations.
Prince Okey Kanu, also announced that the ceremony to mark the flagging -off the construction of Abia medical village will be performed by Governor Alex Otti on the 10th of July 2025, and is expected to be completed in the next 24 months.
The information commissioner equally announced the formal re-introduction of the sanitary inspectors, popularly known as ‘Ndi Ole-ala’, stating that they will be inaugurated on i Thursday, 26th of June 2025.
“The reintroduction of these sanitary inspectors is one further step in the state government’s agenda to deepen the successes already recorded in the area of environmental cleanliness in the state.
“After the formal launch here in Umuahia, the programme will be replicated in the 17 LGA’s to ensure the services of these sanitary inspectors are domiciled in our local communities,” Prince Kanu stated.
He further announced that the state’s Environmental Protection Agency has finally extended its services to the three senatorial zones of the state, covering all the 17 Local Government Areas and communities.
“This is to ensure that the whole state benefits from the ASEPA services that have turned the state into one of the cleanest states in the country.”
He commended the deployment of 26 new receptacles across the state and noted that these receptacles were fabricated by the Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.
