Tension has erupted in Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State as police operatives forcefully occupied the venue of a planned civic reception for Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the House of Representatives member representing the constituency.
The reception, organised by residents of Ideato South Federal Constituency to honour the lawmaker, was scheduled for 4:00 pm on Tuesday and was to be broadcast live on television channels.
However, security operatives moved into the venue hours to the time to stop the programme.
The security operatives did not provide any explanation for the move.
Meanwhile, the organisers have vowed to proceed with the event. They warned that “the dark days in Imo State will not be allowed to stand again.”
They urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Security Adviser (NSA) to investigate the incident to prevent a recurrence of events that could undermine democratic stability in the state.
In January 2023, Ugochinyere’s country home in Akokwa, Imo State, was attacked by gunmen in an incident that reportedly left over 500 bullet holes on his residential buildings.
The attack resulted in the destruction of over 32 vehicles, motorcycles, and other properties valued at N550m.
Ugochinyere’s uncle, Chief Daniel Iloabanafo Ikeagwuonu, was among those killed in the attack.
The lawmaker had attributed the 2023 attack to state-sponsored militia contrary to reports linking it to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).